Police, military to step up patrols

Police, military to step up patrols

JAKARTA (JP): East Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Gories Mere
and Military District Commander Lt. Col. Suharsono have vowed to
step up mobile patrols to curb crimes in the area.

"East Jakarta is the largest and most populated area among the
five mayoralties in the capital. More crimes take place in the
area," Mere said at a handover ceremony of a Toyota Kijang van
from PT United Tractors to the East Jakarta Military District
Command yesterday.

The military district command also got one Kijang van from the
Astra Component Group. The ceremony took place at PT United
Tractors' office in Cakung, East Jakarta.

Mere said robbery and burglary were the most frequently
committed crimes in the area, followed by vehicle thefts and
incidents of torture. He did not reveal any figures.

Mere said the van will be used in the Speed Reaction Unit
which had no vehicles for use in its operations.

He recalled the dilemma faced by the officers of the unit when
they wanted to support city police headquarters in dealing with
the July 27 riot in Central Jakarta. "We did not have a car to
transport the Speed Reaction Unit officers to the scene," he
said.

For Suharsono, the van is also meaningful in terms of stepping
up the military's daily operations. He said military mobile
patrols need to be increased, especially to anticipate the 1997
general election.

He also said the military district command was lacking
operational vehicles. (kod)