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)