New chief asked to protect foreigners

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto has asked the newly-installed chief of the South Jakarta police precinct to pay greater attention to security in residential areas where many foreigners live.

The two-star police general made the remarks yesterday when he installed Lt. Col. Silvanus Yulian Wenas, 42, as the new South Jakarta police chief.

"One of the main issues in this area which needs more attention are the frequent crimes occurring at residential housing complexes where many foreigners live," Hindarto said.

According to Hindarto the number of foreigners living in South Jakarta has increased rapidly in the past few years.

"We have to make all foreign residents living in the mayoralty feel secure," Hindarto said.

Lt. Col. Silvanus Yulian Wenas, popularly known as Wenas, was appointed chief of the South Jakarta police precinct to replace Lt. Col. Adang Rismanto, who is now chief of Semarang Police in Central Java.

Wenas' recent position was commander of the Mobile Brigade at the City Police. Born in Manado, North Sulawesi, Wenas once took a two-month course on Counter Disaster Staff Training in Britain.

Wenas, a father of three, graduated from the Police Academy (Akabri) in 1974 and took advanced courses at the PTIK Police School in 1985 and the Army Command School (Seskoad) in 1990.

After graduating from PTIK, he was assigned as commander of the Mobile Brigade at the Riau provincial police command for two years.

In response to Hindarto's instruction, Wenas said that, "I fully realize that this area is home for many foreigners and, therefore, I'll do all my best to increase security in neighborhoods where many foreigners live, just as we do in residential areas where local people live," he said.

Hindarto also reminded Wenas to be diligent in other cases in South Jakarta, such as land disputes, mass brawls among students, floods and traffic jams.

Hindarto also instructed Wenas to increase the frequency of routine patrols and other special operations in connection with the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Bogor, some 60 kilometers south of here. (bsr)