Sutiyoso has no policy for eradicating thuggery
Sutiyoso has no policy for eradicating thuggery
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The problem of thugs is very real in the city, with their
presence to be found anywhere and everywhere, such as in markets,
entertainment centers and public transportation terminals.
Unfortunately, the city administration has no program to deal
with them.
"We only have civilian police assistants. It is impossible for
them to face temperament thugs," Governor Sutiyoso said on
Wednesday.
Sutiyoso was responding to a question on his policy on dealing
with thuggery during a meeting with members of House of
Representatives Commission VI for people's welfare at City Hall.
He failed to address the question of any administration policy
to curb the growing number of hoodlums in the city.
On Tuesday, he told The Jakarta Post that dealing with
thuggery was for the police, not the city administration.
Sutiyoso blamed thuggery on the shortage of police personnel.
According to Sutiyoso, the ratio of police officers and residents
is around 1:900, which is far from the ideal of 1:200.
Therefore, Sutiyoso added that his administration would boost
the number of civilian police assistants (Banpol) in trying to
help the police do their job, including dealing with thugs.
Sutiyoso, however, stressed the need to involve the military
in dealing with thugs as he believed that police officers, even
assisted by Banpol officers, would not be able to fight them.
"I think we should involve the military in facing thugs to
make them tremble," said Sutiyoso, adding that soldiers should
accompany night patrol police officers.
Urban observers say the number of hoodlums in urban areas,
including Jakarta, has grown in line with increasing unemployment
since the financial crisis hit the country in 1997.
Many people feel intimidated into giving thugs money for fear
that the thugs will harm them otherwise.
Traders at traditional markets and drivers of public
transportation often complain that they are forced to give thugs
money.
For example, public transportation drivers are expected to
give money to around five thugs each way when they pass roads
close to Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.
Many street vendors also have to pay protection money to local
thugs even though they pay security fees to official security
officers.
A number of businessmen and public figures often hire thugs as
security guards or as debt collectors, among other things.
Recently, more than 200 people led by a number of men claiming
to be the guards of businessman Tomy Winata stormed the offices
of Tempo newsmagazine and hit journalists, including Tempo's
chief editor.
Tomy, who denied knowledge of the violence, was not happy with
an article in Tempo, which reported that Tomy had propose
renovating Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta before fire
gutted the market. He claims he made no such proposal.