Police serenades 'becak' drivers in bid for security
Police serenades 'becak' drivers in bid for security
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho
Djajoesman entertained some 4,000 becak (pedicab) drivers on
Wednesday with live dangdut music, appealing to them to reject
any tempting offers to riot from provocateurs.
During the meeting at the Senayan Basketball Hall in Central
Jakarta, the two-star general urged the drivers to play an active
role in helping cool simmering tension in the capital ahead of
the presidential election on Oct. 20.
"Becak drivers are vulnerable to be used by provocateurs to
riot. They are simple people. That's why we (police) have to
embrace them," Noegroho told reporters after briefing the drivers
and dancing with them.
The drivers wore their regular street clothes to the
gathering.
It was not disclosed if they were reimbursed for their time
and expenses.
After the meeting, Noegroho once again urged personnel of
task forces and security volunteers of political parties not to
take to the streets to avoid clashes.
He also told non-Jakarta residents, including supporters and
opponents of presidential candidates for the election in the
General Session in the People's Consultative Assembly, to
immediately return to their hometowns.
"We (Jakarta security authorities) are already enough to
safeguard Jakarta," Noegroho said.
National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi echoed Noegroho's
remarks on Wednesday.
"Just trust the security of the General Session to the
security personnel," he told a news conference.
Accompanied by his assistants, Roesmanhadi said the call for
outsiders to return home was a preventative measure to avoid them
clashing with outsiders.
He referred to an incident in front of Hotel Indonesia in
Central Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon in which supporters of
President B.J. Habibie almost became involved in a clash with
followers of the presidential candidate from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
The four-star general said 41,500 police personnel were
currently deployed in and around the capital to secure the city
and the General Session.
"Thus, we ask anyone and any party who is attempting to create
disturbances here to stop their plans because we're completely
ready to face such efforts," Roesmanhadi said.
Habibie will present his accountability speech before members
of the legislature on Thursday evening. (asa/bsr)