Police, Army raids to rid Tanah Abang of market thugs

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta military district commander, Lt. Col. Moeldoko, has followed Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah's pledge to stage massive raids in the crowded Tanah Abang market area to get rid of hoodlums.

Unlike Andi, Moeldoko refused to publicize the time and date of the raids, which would involve local personnel from the military, police and public order office.

"We will arrest them in an operation some time this week," Moeldoko said after a meeting with some 100 minivan drivers who entered the second day of their strike yesterday to demand an end to the hoodlums' ongoing extortion rackets.

By yesterday evening, a number of armed police were seen on guard in the area but there was still no sign of action against the hoodlums.

Last Friday, Andi publicly announced his mayoralty's plan to crack down on preman (hoodlums) in a joint operation with local military and police personnel as of Monday.

Instead of watching officials round up hoodlums, commuters in the area were stranded Monday by dozens of striking drivers of M- 11 and M-09 minivans, who usually ply the Tanah Abang-Kebon Jeruk and Tanah Abang-Kebayoran Lama routes.

The minivan drivers continued their strike yesterday and rallied outside Moeldoko's office, demanding protection against the Tanah Abang hoodlums.

In response, Moeldoko asked the drivers to return to work and he promised to drive out hoodlums, who have run illegal businesses in the area for many years.

"I've just attended a meeting with all related parties to discuss every possibility regarding the operation," he told the frustrated drivers.

"We have taken precautionary measures to solve this problem."

According to city police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, officers arrested three Tanah Abang hoodlums Monday. They regularly extorted money from minivan drivers, Hamami alleged.

"We are still investigating the case and will continue to conduct raids against hoodlums."

According to the drivers, the hoodlums extort at least Rp 2,000 (U.S. 50 cents) from each driver every day.

Syafri, a representative of the drivers, said they collected levies at almost every post along the routes.

"Besides that, we still have to pay levies to officials at the bus station. It is hard for us to gain enough money for living expenses," Syafri said.

The hoodlums even insist that drivers pay Rp 1,000 for a "protection sticker" issued by the so-called Minivan Drivers Association, he alleged.

"This is crazy. The hoodlums are criminals. How can they possibly protect us?

"We object to such an organization. They practically want to control us. We feel there is no other way for us to face this problem unless we go on strike and seek help from the authorities."

During yesterday's meeting, Moeldoko said he appreciated the drivers' initiative to come to his office.

"Thank you for not taking irresponsible action. We will try as hard as we can to maintain order and protect the area. Don't be afraid to make a report if you've been harassed by thugs," he told the drivers.

"But we appeal to you (the drivers) to start operating again because you have to feed your family. Think of the passengers too," he added.

The drivers promised to start operating again today but said they still felt threatened by the hoodlums.

Moeldoko told reporters later that the hoodlum problem in Tanah Abang was complicated.

"The hoodlums exist purely due to the increasing number of street vendors there. They cause congestion along the streets which, in turn, leads to the existence of hoodlums who protect them from being evicted from the streets," he said.

"From the traffic congestion, which is sometimes manipulated by the hoodlums themselves, the gangs could then also collect levies from the public vehicle drivers. It's a chain reaction."

The municipality had often tried to move the vendors into the market but they always ended up back on the streets, he said

Moeldoko said dealing with hoodlums was like chasing ghosts.

"Their crimes are not easily detectable. In order to catch them, we need strong evidence to put them away. We have difficulty catching them in action."

Moeldoko said that he had started placing undercover personnel at the market and intensifying military patrols in and around the area. (07/jun/04)