Sutiyoso to take action against disgraceful soldiers

JAKARTA (JP): Greater Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said yesterday that stern action would be taken against unscrupulous soldiers who backed up illegal activities at entertainment establishments.

"... soldiers in the city ... represent soldiers as a whole. If soldiers violated the rule, I'll punish them because they could give a bad name to other soldiers," Sutiyoso said after inaugurating the 55th Armed Forces Rural Civic Action in a police soccer field in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

The Jakarta Military Garrison conducted a crackdown on Friday and arrested 34 soldiers frequenting places prohibited to Armed Forces members. Personnel are only allowed to visit entertainment centers on undercover assignments.

Several discotheques were believed to be drugs trafficking sites. The managements of the establishments were believed to have the protection of military members.

In the raids, the military garrison officers also arrested 57 civilians for drug abuse, carrying sharp weapons, or for having no identification cards in their possession.

The military garrison conducted the crackdown from 10 p.m to 4 a.m, and took place at several discotheques, gambling dens and brothels.

Sutiyoso said the arrested soldiers were sent to their unit commanders who would decide on their punishment.

"I always ask the unit commanders about the type of punishment to be meted out to their soldiers," he said.

The two-star general said the military command was investigating how many of the arrested soldiers provided security for the establishments and how many of them were only customers.

"Even hanging out in such places is prohibited for soldiers," said Sutiyoso, who is a candidate for the next city governor.

Although the military command would not announce the names of the arrested soldiers or their punishment, Sutiyoso said the public could be assured the soldiers would be punished.

"A reward and punishment system is well applied in the military command although we don't make a habit of announcing it," he said.

He said the crackdown was aimed to net soldiers in places such as pubs, discotheques and brothels. But it was inevitable that civilians were also arrested, he said.

In yesterday's inauguration, Sutiyoso read a speech by Army Chief Gen. Wiranto.

Wiranto said the Armed Forces Rural Civic Action, named after the nationwide program, aimed to help development in villages and slum areas.

He said the civic action programs were coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and other ministries so that the action programs would not overlap with other programs.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said that at least 1,250 soldiers were deployed in the civic action in five military districts: North, East, West Jakarta, Bekasi and Tangerang.

He said the civic action here also involved youth organizations and non-governmental organizations. (jun)