The "Operation Cleansing" creates controversy

The "Operation Cleansing" creates controversy

JAKARTA (JP) The launching of Operasi Bersih (Operation
Cleansing) to combat crimes in the Greater Jakarta area has
created controversy between the City Council and the Indonesian
Legal Aid Foundation.

The Council yesterday voiced its support for the ongoing
operation, while the YLBHI called it an arrogant act of the
military.

Hendardi, spokesman for the YLBHI, yesterday said the
operation deviates from the existing Criminal Code procedures,
which stipulates that such an operation should be launched by the
police force.

"There is a tendency for the Army to interfere with police
business, and this will not make the police more professional in
handling their duties," he told The Jakarta Post.

According to Hendardi, the most rational way to eliminate
crimes is not by launching such an operation, but by optimizing
the police's capability to fight crimes and by narrowing the
widening social gap.

The anti-crime operation, which commenced on March 11,
involves personnel from the Army, the City Police Force, the
Marine Corps and the Air Force as well as officials from Jakarta,
Tangerang and Bekasi.

The United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) and the ABRI faction voiced their full support at the
City Council yesterday amid growing public concern over the
operation.

Muhammad Rodja of the PPP said the mission of the operation
emphasizes "back to family" as it compels all children to be at
home by midnight.

"I really appreciate what the commander is doing now. It's
really nice of him to launch such an operation," Rodja said,
referring to the Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen.
Hendroprijono (Hendro).

He noted that the joint operation should be supported by every
Jakarta resident, especially parents who want to see their
children successful.

"It's every parent's duty to give advice to their children not
to loiter late at night and get drunk," Rodja stated.

He reminded the authorities not to tolerate any violation, no
matter how slight the violation may be, because it can undermine
the military itself.

Curfew

Commenting on the curfew issue reported by a number of local
papers, Rodja said it is not easy to declare such a curfew
because it has specific criteria. Besides, imposing a curfew
would create an image that the city is in a state of chaos.

Hendro denounced reports that a curfew will be imposed amidst
rumors of racial riots hitting the city and said security is
under control.

With the rumors still spreading, unconfirmed reports said
racial riots occurred yesterday along Jl. Gajah Mada, Central
Jakarta, which affected a number of Chinese Indonesian residents.

Ismunandar of the PDI party noted that Operation Cleansing is
necessary in the wake of increasing crimes and acts of violence.

"The number of crimes may be declining, but their nature tends
to exacerbate," he said, emphasizing a number of current criminal
cases such as the rape of a young girl and a robbery which
claimed the live of one victim.

Nawadji of the ABRI faction told reporters yesterday that the
initial results of the operation show the clampdown on crimes has
been successful.

In the first ten days of the operation, the authorities
captured almost 500 people and seized five firearms and more than
100 sharp weapons as well as 40.000 bottles of alcohol.

Touching on the sale of alcoholic drinks, Nawadji said the
city administration has issued a regulation on the matter, but
most distributors do not abide by the regulation.

Callers

Meanwhile spokesman for the Jakarta Military Command, Lt. Col.
Didi Supandi, said the agency is still searching for mysterious
callers who have spread rumors of racial riots gripping the city
Wednesday and Thursday.

"Once they use private telephone lines, we can find the
callers and then catch them," said Didi, adding that the
mysterious callers had used public telephones, which are quite
difficult to be detected by the authorities.

Didi said the widespread rumors of the racial riots are
probably related to the ongoing anti-crime operation.

"Those spreading the rumors may have felt that the operation
affected their interests," Didi said.

The spokesman reassured Jakartans that security in the city is
well under control and that the public should remain calm in
spite of the rumors on the riots.(jsk/09/11)