Press aware of pickpockets

JAKARTA (JP): During outdoor interviews, journalists covering the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly always make full use of both their hands.

They lunge to record statements, all the while keeping one hand on their belongings.

"Watch out, pickpocket," a female journalist whispered to a colleague as a crowd of journalists crowded around Assembly Deputy Speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita on Wednesday.

The warning quickly passed among the journalists, and everybody kept an eye, or hand, on their wallets and bags.

At least five reporters have been victims of theft since the session began on Oct. 1, one journalist told Antara.

More than 2,000 journalists are covering the event, according to the Assembly Secretariat. (amd)