Policemen miss out on spending time with families

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java

Bomb and terror threats looming over Christmas and New Year celebrations in the country have required many policemen throughout the country to work during the holiday season instead of spending time with their families.

Policemen on duty have to direct traffic to reduce traffic congestion during the festive days, patrol the streets to ensure security and respond to reports on criminal cases.

One of these policemen is First Adj. Insp. Nanang Sudjana, a police officer at Bandung Police traffic division, West Java.

He remains alert at his post on Jl. Jawa and never misses a traffic report through radio or telephone.

"It's hard to take a rest or even to make a cup of coffee since this communication gadget rings almost every minute," he told The Jakarta Post.

Nanang said that traffic in the city reached its peak during the end of the Muslim fasting month or Idul Fitri and two days before Christmas because many residents went shopping.

In addition, many Jakarta residents went to Bandung to celebrate Idul Fitri and Christmas.

Another policeman, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he had to be constantly alert at his post during Idul Fitri and Christmas due to the possible threat of terror attacks.

"We do not want any incidents such as the Christmas Eve bombings that occurred two years ago. In the past, we could skip our duty easily, but now, our superior always checks his team members," he said while directing traffic at an intersection in Dago area, Bandung.

Meanwhile, Chief Pvt. Supriyanto, 30, said that he was grateful he could get one day off every Christmas Day so he could go to church.

He, however, said that he was quite disappointed because he was not able to accompany his wife and two children to visit his hometown in Yogyakarta to celebrate Christmas.

"We (the city's policemen) are all forbidden to go out of town in case of disturbances such as the Christmas Eve bombings in 2000," Supriyanto said.

Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendra Sukmana said that the security situation in the city had improved since operation Ketupat Lilin Lodaya was launched in mid November.

For the operation, Hendra said he deployed some 2,700 police personnel and received assistance from the military for intensifying security arrangements for the city until Jan. 6, 2003.

Hendra said that to maintain security until New Year's Eve, his team would concentrate on shopping centers, public places, and main roads.

He said that he would not allow his subordinates to take leave during the ongoing security operation. He only gave four-days leave for Christian officers who were not members of the special patrol team after Dec. 24 as their number was quite small.

Around 90 percent of the 200 police officers in his office are Muslims, he said.

Hendra added that the Muslim officers were not allowed to take leave during Idul Fitri. They may take their annual leave after Jan. 6.

He said he had spent only two hours a day with his family since November.

One of his subordinates, Nanang, who has been a police officer since 1984, said that he often celebrated Idul Fitri at his office or on the street.

"What would happen if all Muslim policemen requested a holiday at Idul Fitri? What can I say? It's part of my job to be on duty on all occasions and we are paid by the public to do that," Nanang said.

As a police officer, Nanang said when he was on duty he was required to be on call 24 hours a day.

Consequently, Nanang said, he did not have much time for his three sons. Even at home, he said he had little time with his children as he was just too tired to stay awake.

"When I arrive home, I go to sleep straight away because I'm already exhausted," he said. To compensate, he said, he tried to make phone calls from work in a bid to keep in touch with his wife and children.

Supriyanto, meanwhile, said that he never had any problem with his family although most of his time was given to his job and his house was located outside the city.

"I discussed my work with my wife long before we got married. Being a policeman is just like being a soldier. Our first wife is our duty while the one we marry and sleep with is the second wife," he said.