Over 4,000 Kamra members question their future

Over 4,000 Kamra members question their future

YOGYAKARTA (JP): More than 4,000 members of police-sponsored
civilian militia, known as Keamanan Rakyat or Kamra, took to the
streets in Yogyakarta on Friday querying about their future as
their working contract with then Ministry of Security and Defense
will terminate on Dec. 31.

The demonstrators representing Kamra members in Java, Bali,
East Nusa Tenggara and South Sumatra gathered at the Yogyakarta
provincial legislative council building yard, urging the central
government to pay attention to them.

Many of the protesters from outside Java arrived in Yogyakarta
on Thursday and had spent the night at the legislative council
building compound.

The non-violent protest started at 9 a.m. with requests for
jobs. They carried banners reading We want certainty, We are
dreaming of becoming policemen, servicemen or civil servants.

National Coordinator of Kamra Rubiyanto said he and his fellow
Kamra members would stay at the compound until the government
fulfilled their demands.

"We pledge to stay to the end," said Rubiyanto.

Meanwhile the Central Java Kamra coordinator Prihanto said the
Kamra members were ready for selection tests to become policemen
or servicemen. "We had passed certain tests before being
inaugurated as Kamra members. Nevertheless, we are ready for
another test. The promise to give us first priority in police or
military recruitment was just lip service," Prihanto said.

Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X met with the
protesters and provided drinks.

A Kamra member of Central Java said that the government owed
each Kamra member between Rp 5 million to Rp 6 million in monthly
salaries and other allowances which had not yet been paid. "We
don't want the money. We just want jobs for our future."

The sultan promised to accompany the protesters'
representatives to convey their aspirations to the central
government in Jakarta.

"I and other provincial officials will set up a special team
for this," he said, which drew applause from the protesters.

"Please, I request each unit chief to make official letters
authorizing me to represent you all, and write down clearly what
you want," said the sultan.

In the West Java capital of Bandung hundreds of Kamra members
also protested the government's lack of attention to them.

The protesters spokesman, Dadang, told reporters that they had
lodged a complaint about their future to the provincial
legislature, but no response had been made by the legislators.

The history

Kamra was established early last year under the initiative of
then Minister of Security and Defense Gen. Wiranto.

Wiranto argued at that time that the Armed Forces (ABRI)
needed help in enforcing law and restoring a sense of security
among the public.

Wiranto is no longer heading the ministry and the police force
is no longer under the auspices of the Ministry of Security and
Defense.

Hot debates had taken place between Wiranto's office and the
House of Representatives about the plan on Kamra.

Wiranto once told a hearing with the House that the plan was
part of ABRI's anticipatory action to help create feeling of
security in society as well as to maintain stability.

"Crimes, including riots, looting and arson are expected to
soar because of economic hardship and people's ignorance of the
law," the general said in a hearing in January last year.

On Thursday, Wiranto told reporters in Yogyakarta that he no
longer had the right to say anything about Kamra.

Interviewed by reporters during his tour to promote his
cassette at UNISI Radio Station, Wiranto recalled that the idea
to set up the civilian militia was due to the fact that the
number of police officers was too small compared to the
population.

"Ideally the ratio between police officers and the people is
1:300, while it is now 1: 1,100 in Indonesia. If riots erupt,
what could we do? Furthermore, many unemployed people have a good
educational background. The Kamra project was expected to help
curb the high unemployment rate," he said.

He said however that it would not be practical to channel
members of Kamra into the police or military. "There was not any
promise to do that. They just have priority when the military and
the police force want to recruit new members." (23/sur)