Officials query police commitment in backup

JAKARTA (JP): City officials blamed the police and military on Tuesday for providing inadequate numbers of personnel to back up an operation against public order violators on the capital's streets.

The head of the City Public Order Office's public places division, Tony Boediono, said security officers did not even show up to help his men who were about to carry out the operation.

"Our officials were ready to hit the streets but the promised reinforcements from the police and military didn't show up," he said.

"The absence of backup police and military personnel made it difficult for us to take stern action (against violators)."

Similar concern was also aired by Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah.

"I asked for 30 police officers but only 10 showed up," he said in frustration.

"The police should trust that I will provide all necessities for their officers during the operation," he said, acknowledging the failure to reach an agreement to finance the operation during a recent city leadership-level meeting.

"I have my own contingency budget to feed them while waiting for the disbursement of the budget," he added.

Acting Jakarta Police spokesman Asst. Supt. Alex Mandalika could not be reached for comment on the officers' apparent unwillingness to support the city administration's efforts to restore public order to the capital.

But city officials vowed they would continue carrying out their operation, even with the absence of police personnel.

"We'll keep going with the public order operation," Tony said.

"We'll divide the officials into two teams. The first team will have its members roam the streets, while the other team will be stationed at several places, such as markets and bus terminals," he added.

Mayor Subur, an Army colonel, said his mayoralty would move a large number of vendors from the streets near Pasar Senen market to a temporary location.

"The important thing is that they don't disturb traffic while waiting for a permanent place on the second floor of the new bus terminal," he said, adding that construction of the terminal would be completed in the next six months. (nvn)