Reporters make food donation

JAKARTA (JP): Reporters covering crimes at city police headquarters gave food packages to police officers and soldiers posted to safeguard the House of Representatives building in Central Jakarta on Friday.

The reporters' coordinator, Edi Hasibuan, said the donation consisted of 2,520 packs of instant noodles, 5,356 glasses of mineral water, 2,400 bottles of milk, 5,000 tablets of vitamin C and 3,000 sachets of Extra Joss food supplement.

"The gift constitutes a form of our sympathy to the police officers and soldiers, who are on the alert round-the-clock to safeguard the building, especially ahead of the People's Consultative Assembly special session from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13," Edi said.

The gift worth about Rp 25 million (US$3,125) was gathered from the reporters themselves and the public, including several high-ranking officers of the city police, he said.

"The high-ranking officers who made the donation don't want to be named because what they gave was personal in nature," he said.

The food donation was transported from city police office on Jl. Sudirman in South Jakarta in a police truck bearing a big yellow banner which read, "Hell and high water and mounting scorn are your lot, but you're always firm."

In a modest ceremony in the building's front yard, Edi symbolically handed over the gift to Lt. Col. Sunaryo, a member of the city police mobile brigade, witnessed by Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto who happened to be conducting an impromptu inspection there.

Also attending the ceremony were National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi, city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman and Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman.

"On behalf of fellow crime reporters, I'm satisfied as we can give to those in need, albeit in small quantities, " Edi said after the ceremony. (emf)