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.