Number of crimes declines slightly this year: Police

Number of crimes declines slightly this year: Police

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has been slightly safer this year compared to 1994, with the police reporting an overall decline in the crime rate, albeit only a slight one.

National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro told journalists yesterday that the number of crimes reported to the police this year dropped to 163,197 cases from 164,119 cases the previous year.

This, however, still means that a crime is committed in this country of 196 million people every three minutes and 13 seconds.

East Java and Jakarta were the two provinces most prone to crime this year, while Central Kalimantan and Maluku saw the least number of crime committed.

In a media briefing to review the outgoing 1995 and the prospect for next year, Banurusman said he expected the crime rate in 1996 to remain more or less unchanged.

The four-star general said next year could see its share of street demonstrations, and riots. "I have ordered all my personnel to keep on monitoring and to take preventive steps the moment they detect activities that could lead to riots."

Some analysts predicted more unrest in 1996 as the country is gearing up to a general election in 1997. Officials however are confident that national security and political stability will remain under firm control next year.

According to Banurusman, the five provinces categorized as the most prone to crime this year are East Java (24,034 cases), Jakarta (22,755 cases), West Java (21,564 cases), Central Java (17,480 cases) and South Sumatra (13,353 cases).

In relations to population size, East Kalimantan tops the list, with 245 crime cases per 100,000 population. North Sumatra follows with 243 cases, Jakarta comes third with 151, and South Kalimantan and Irian Jaya with 133 and 120 cases respectively

Gen. Banurusman said this year's decline continues the trend that started in 1991, when total reported crime was 204,000, and then falling to 175,000 in 1992 and 169,000 in 1993.

There was no time for complacency for Banurusman or his officers however. "Although the figure has declined in the last five years, we regard it as still high," he said.

There was another reason for Banurusman to be concerned about -- the rate at which police solve the crime cases has remained at between 50 and 60 percent. This means that as many as half of crimes reported to them do not get solved.

Most observers put this down to classic police problems, ranging from manpower shortages, budget constraints and lack of professionalism.

Vehicle thefts and juvenile delinquency showed the fastest growth this year, according to police statistics.The number of vehicle thefts soared by 60 percent to 16,826 cases from 10,499 cases in 1994 while juvenile delinquency cases jumped 38 percent to 189 cases.

Police this year have also had to handle numerous riots, drug trafficking, gambling, intellectual property rights violations, counterfeit money syndicates and fake lubricating oil and diesel fuel gangs.

Banurusman said external factors provoked some of the crimes committed in this country. He cited instigation by foreign non- governmental organizations and the foreign media as examples.

The local NGOs also instigated some of the crimes committed in this country, he said.

Another major factor causing the high crime rate is the wide disparity between rich and poor in Indonesian society, he added.

Asked to comment on a recent prediction by noted soothsayer Ki Gendeng Pamungkas that Indonesia's crime rate would triple in 1996, Banurusman commented: "I don't think any increase will be as high as that."

Gendeng in an interview with a magazine also predicted more anti-Chinese riots in 1996.

Banurusman also declined to comment other than saying that "We have to keep our guard against issues that could inflame anti- Chinese sentiments." (bsr)