Public order crackdown a success: Officials

JAKARTA (JP): Despite several operational complications, the city administration pledged on Tuesday to continue its integrated campaign to maintain security and order across the capital.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said the program has so far been effective in creating a feeling of security among the public.

Notwithstanding coordination problems between officers from the city administration, police and Army, Kahfi said the program was being hailed as a success in all five mayoralties.

According to Kahfi, the most recent drive of the operation this week saw some 67,257 people arrested for violations of the public order regulation. The offenders include street beggars, street singers, homeless people and prostitutes.

Kahfi said the city administration has imposed punitive measures against the offenders. The punishments vary, ranging from warnings to removal from the capital.

Over 800 people netted during the operations were admitted to social rehabilitation centers in Kedoya, West Jakarta and Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Initiated on Dec. 27 last year, the program is scheduled to end on Jan. 16.

Meanwhile, some councilors expressed disagreement with the plan, saying they believed it was a waste of money.

A City Council member of commission A for government affairs, Pantas Nainggolan, said the council has never held official talks on the issue with city authorities.

Besides making arrests over violation of the city public order regulation, the program has seen over 487,000 firecracker seizures, Kahfi said.

Of the firecrackers seized, 46,000 were confiscated in North Jakarta, 310,000 in Central Jakarta, 48,800 in West Jakarta, 36,500 in East Jakarta and 46,500 in South Jakarta. (04)