Parties' task forces ready to end gambling
<p>Parties' task forces ready to end gambling</p><p> JAKARTA (JP): Task forces of major political parties have
expressed their readiness to deploy their private troops to help
the Jakarta Administration in its efforts to close down gambling
dens in the capital.</p><p>Speaking separately, executives of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Nahdlatul Ulama's youth
wing, GP Ansor, and United Development Party (PPP) said the city
authorities, who recently received no support from police, needed
assistance with its raids against gambling operators.</p><p>Therefore, they said, their parties have no reluctance to
dispatch their tens of thousands of task force members to escort
the city's Public Order personnel in the anti-gambling raids.</p><p>"If the administration asks us for help, we will gladly join
their raids," said deputy chief of the Jakarta chapter of PDI
Perjuangan Ishak Iskandar.</p><p>Ishak suggested good coordination with the police to avoid
problems and misunderstandings.</p><p>"The raid must be conducted under one command, which is the
administration, and the police should be informed to avoid any
misinterpretation of our participation," he said, adding that his
party's task force has some 10,000 personnel in the capital.</p><p>If necessary, PDI Perjuangan would arm its personnel with
wooden clubs for self-defense, Ishak added.</p><p>GP Ansor's task force chief, Tatang Hidayat, offered similar
support.</p><p>According to him, his group -- as part of society -- would do
its best to secure the administration's policies and programs,
including halting illegal activities, such as gambling.</p><p>"Such activities are also forbidden in Islamic teaching. We
will fully support the administration," Tatang said.</p><p>But, he added, GP Ansor with its 10,000 personnel in the city
will use different methods in helping Jakarta curb gambling.</p><p>"We'll use persuasive means by approaching people allegedly
involved in the gambling practices to deter them. We believe that
the tongue is sharper than a sword," Tatang added.</p><p>At a media conference on Saturday, Djaffar Badjeber of PPP
said: "We are ready to deploy our personnel to support the
administration's program," adding that the party's security force
in Jakarta currently numbers some 5,000 people.</p><p>In response to public willingness to assist the authorities,
Governor Sutiyoso said that he strongly approved the plan of the
parties.</p><p>"We welcome any public support. It can be in the form of
information or reinforcement. However, the reinforcement must be
strictly under the administration's command," he said.</p><p>Sutiyoso insisted that his administration and personnel had
nothing to fear in conducting raids against amusement centers
involved in gambling, even if they are linked to people with
power.</p><p>"Their resistance last week showed that there are powerful
people behind the businesses," he told reporters on Monday.</p><p>"We plan to continue the raids," Sutiyoso said.</p><p>Last Wednesday, nine personnel from the City Public Order
office were slightly injured by guards of several amusement
centers during efforts, without the police, to seal gambling dens
at Mangga Dua Harco electronics center in Central Jakarta. (lup)</p>
expressed their readiness to deploy their private troops to help
the Jakarta Administration in its efforts to close down gambling
dens in the capital.</p><p>Speaking separately, executives of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Nahdlatul Ulama's youth
wing, GP Ansor, and United Development Party (PPP) said the city
authorities, who recently received no support from police, needed
assistance with its raids against gambling operators.</p><p>Therefore, they said, their parties have no reluctance to
dispatch their tens of thousands of task force members to escort
the city's Public Order personnel in the anti-gambling raids.</p><p>"If the administration asks us for help, we will gladly join
their raids," said deputy chief of the Jakarta chapter of PDI
Perjuangan Ishak Iskandar.</p><p>Ishak suggested good coordination with the police to avoid
problems and misunderstandings.</p><p>"The raid must be conducted under one command, which is the
administration, and the police should be informed to avoid any
misinterpretation of our participation," he said, adding that his
party's task force has some 10,000 personnel in the capital.</p><p>If necessary, PDI Perjuangan would arm its personnel with
wooden clubs for self-defense, Ishak added.</p><p>GP Ansor's task force chief, Tatang Hidayat, offered similar
support.</p><p>According to him, his group -- as part of society -- would do
its best to secure the administration's policies and programs,
including halting illegal activities, such as gambling.</p><p>"Such activities are also forbidden in Islamic teaching. We
will fully support the administration," Tatang said.</p><p>But, he added, GP Ansor with its 10,000 personnel in the city
will use different methods in helping Jakarta curb gambling.</p><p>"We'll use persuasive means by approaching people allegedly
involved in the gambling practices to deter them. We believe that
the tongue is sharper than a sword," Tatang added.</p><p>At a media conference on Saturday, Djaffar Badjeber of PPP
said: "We are ready to deploy our personnel to support the
administration's program," adding that the party's security force
in Jakarta currently numbers some 5,000 people.</p><p>In response to public willingness to assist the authorities,
Governor Sutiyoso said that he strongly approved the plan of the
parties.</p><p>"We welcome any public support. It can be in the form of
information or reinforcement. However, the reinforcement must be
strictly under the administration's command," he said.</p><p>Sutiyoso insisted that his administration and personnel had
nothing to fear in conducting raids against amusement centers
involved in gambling, even if they are linked to people with
power.</p><p>"Their resistance last week showed that there are powerful
people behind the businesses," he told reporters on Monday.</p><p>"We plan to continue the raids," Sutiyoso said.</p><p>Last Wednesday, nine personnel from the City Public Order
office were slightly injured by guards of several amusement
centers during efforts, without the police, to seal gambling dens
at Mangga Dua Harco electronics center in Central Jakarta. (lup)</p>