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)