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)