Public order officials likely to be insured
Public order officials likely to be insured
JAKARTA (JP): The City Public Order Agency has asked the city
administration for insurance to protect its staff and their
vehicles from the increasingly violent resistance shown by
certain sections of the public to its operations.
"This is just a proposal. The agency must protect its staff
and assets from any resistance from people," Thoha Reno, chief of
the public facility order unit at the agency, said on Friday.
He said that city public order officials were prone to
physical attacks from the public.
"Our officials have repeatedly been attacked by residents,
while our official vehicles have also been the target of their
anger," he said.
Thoha said an insurance scheme was especially important
considering the city administration's recent decision to
intensify its programs aimed at restoring public order in the
city.
"That's the reason why have proposed to the administration to
protect our staff through an insurance scheme allocated from the
city budget," he said.
He said the agency had carried out and self-financed a similar
scheme in 1995.
But it only lasted for a year, he said.
"The agency initially paid the insurance premiums, but could
not afford to continue the scheme over the long term," the
official said, but did not provide further details.
Governor Sutiyoso, backed by the Jakarta Military and Police,
declared last month a commitment to restore security and public
order in the capital, targeting vice and arresting people with
"social welfare problems", such as three-in-one traffic jockeys,
illegal traffic wardens, prostitutes, and street children and
vendors.
The administration has attempted to carry out public order
programs, but has complained of the absence of police officers to
support and protect its officials.
Vagrants and street vendors in several places have pledged to
wage war against on-duty officials.
On Wednesday, the agency reported that two official vehicles
were attacked by vagrants and prostitutes during raids in North
Jakarta.
Earlier this month, nine public order officials were injured
after being attacked by hired security guards during an official
raid to close down suspected gambling centers in the Mangga Dua
area, Central Jakarta.
"With the intensification of public order programs, we are
seeing more negative sentiments against our officials, even when
they are just passing down the street.
"I think it's about time the administration considers better
protection by providing our staff with an insurance scheme,"
Thoha said. (lup)