Sjafrie pledges to rid T. Abang of hoodlums

JAKARTA (JP): The city's rehabilitation program for 68 alleged hoodlums from Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta will help reestablish the men as good citizens in the community, a military official said yesterday.

"The hoodlums will not be relocated," Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said.

"Instead, they have to be completely eliminated from streets in the capital. But we have a certain way of dealing with this problem, including putting them into a rehabilitation program."

Speaking outside City Hall after opening a joint security rehearsal for the March general session of the People's Consultative Assembly, Sjafrie vowed to free Tanah Abang of hoodlums and activities which cause public disturbances.

"That is why we intend to solve the matter before it gets worse. We'll punish the hoodlums according to the existing laws and will rehabilitate those who try to be 'clean'," the two-star general said.

The 68 alleged hoodlums were taken Sunday to a site at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta to participate in a rehabilitation program. The men were later moved to Ragunan Sports Dormitory in South Jakarta.

The rehabilitation program was organized by Sjafrie's office, the municipality and Jakarta Police Headquarters.

One of the main reasons for "gathering" the men was to avoid further social unrest in the busy market and bus terminal.

Emotions are running high in Tanah Abang after a series of clashes between hoodlums and hundreds of local residents. At least two men have been killed in the fighting.

Sjafrie -- who is also chief of the Jakarta Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability -- reiterated that care must be taken because the problem could easily turn into a major incident.

"We, therefore, have joined with the municipality and Jakarta Police to maintain stability and security not only in Tanah Abang, but places throughout the city."

Sjafrie also pledged to rid the area of prostitutes, brothels and unlicensed stalls selling alcohol.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said the municipality would take stern action against any hoodlums who incite violence in Tanah Abang.

"We have no other choice," Kahfi, who also attended yesterday's rehearsal, said.

The city will continue holding rehabilitation programs for alleged hoodlums in the hope that thugs will turn over a new leaf.

"They are human beings too. We can't just discard them. We are giving them a choice but it is up to them to decide."

After two days of "silence" following last week's clashes, business in Tanah Abang returned to normal yesterday.

Many sidewalk vendors lined the streets again and the railway station and bus terminal were as hectic as usual.

But traders were still on edge yesterday.

"We're really afraid now," Ucok, one of the vendors said.

"We don't know what's really happening. That's why I only display a bit of merchandise here because I have to be ready to run if something bad happens again," the 30-year-old man said. (07)