More welcome army's war on crime
More welcome army's war on crime
JAKARTA (JP): The army-sponsored Operation Cleansing, which
was designed to combat crimes in the Jakarta area, gained wider
supports from the police and the public yesterday.
In the latest development, Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto, chief
of the city police, said he appreciated Brig. Gen. Agum Gumelar,
commander of the elite red beret Kopassus corp's offer to unleash
his men on the city's criminal element.
"The corp members have certain skills to assist police in
combating crime here. I really appreciate his offer," Hindarto
was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.
The two-star police general acknowledged that the offer came
prior to the police' formal request.
"It is not because the offer came from the corp. We also
appreciate any party who can assist us in combating crime in the
city. We should take appropriate measures in tackling crime as
soon as possible, above all because the APEC (Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation) meeting is due to be held here in
November," said Hindarto.
The general said he would meet with Gumelar on his offer
during the celebration of the commando's 42nd anniversary on
April 16.
Hindarto added that with only 16,000 personnel the city police
is in fact less prepared to combat crime. The force should have
at least 30,000 personnel to fulfill their job in a satisfactory
way, he said.
Beforehand, Gumelar voiced concerns in the press over the
alleged escalation of violence and crime in the capital city,
saying his trained fighters were eager for a shot at helping the
police.
"The escalation of crime really concern us. The red berets are
ready to lend a hand if asked," he said.
It is not known yet if the commando members will be separated
from or included in the 16,700-strong team of Operation Cleansing
(Operasi Bersih) recently launched by Jakarta Military Commander
Maj. Gen. Hendroprijono, once the offer is accepted.
Support
In a related development, some legislators voiced their full
support for Operation Cleansing.
The operation whose formation, as the experts saw, was mostly
triggered by the death of Brig. Gen. TMF Tampubolon by four men,
and was designed to crack down on the sale of spirits and illegal
drugs; and the use of firearms and sharp weapons.
The 16,700 personnel of the operation were recruited from the
army, navy, air force and police force.
"Police are supposed to be able to tackle the crime on their
own. But since there are many cases left unsolved, it is only
reasonable that the Bakorstanasda (the city branch of the agency
for Coordinating Defense and National Stability) come to prevent
the crimes from expanding," said Marcel Beding, a member of the
House of Representative's commission on, among others, defense
affairs.
Marcel pointed to the murder of Tampubolon, an expert staff to
the Armed Forces (ABRI) commander-in-chief, and hooliganism
during the present soccer competition as indications of
escalating violence.
"Don't find it negative if the agency is involved in the war
against crimes, since conditions require them to do so," he said.
Legislator May. Gen. Suparman, who spoke on behalf of his
Armed-forces faction, also voiced support for the operation.
"But, the public needs to back it up by reviving the so-called
siskamling (neighborhood watch) system," he said. (jsk)