Policemen miss out on spending time with families

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.