Thugs to help secure Tanah Abang

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If you can't beat them, join them. If you can't get rid of them, recruit them. That seems to be the motto of the city administration in dealing with thugs in the capital.

While the city police has tried to tame thugs by force -- arresting and sending them to jail, the city administration prefers to recruit them as security guards.

"We will invite them (thugs) to join the integrated security task force in Tanah Abang because they have been there for a long time," city market operator PD Pasar Jaya president director Prabowo Soenirman told journalists on Wednesday.

Prabowo made the announcement after he and Central Jakarta Mayor Muhayat met Governor Sutiyoso to explain the so-named integrated security system in the Tanah Abang commercial district.

Muhayat added that the integrated security system in Tanah Abang, which will involve thugs as security guards, would become a pilot project for the integrated security system in certain areas.

"If the project in Tanah Abang works, we will apply it in other areas," said Muhayat.

Tanah Abang has a very complicated security problem due to the ubiquitous presence of thugs there. Drivers of public transportation and traders are often easy targets for thugs in the name of security protection.

Last month, city police introduced tough measures against thugs, arresting and detaining them. The operation was carried out after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that he had received many complaints about thuggery in the capital.

According to Prabowo, the thugs will be part of around 600 security personnel to be deployed at the commercial site, the largest textile market in Southeast Asia, together with security personnel recruited from the military and police force.

"The integrated security system will only have one command, which will be led by Col. (ret) Bambang Sakti," he said, adding that its tasks would include securing Tanah Abang market and several other markets.

The other markets are Kebon Jati, Gandaria, Kebon Melati, Cideng and Petojo Enclek.

Prabowo said street vendors operating in the markets would also be monitored.

A blueprint of the area prepared by PD Pasar Jaya shows that the commercial site will cover 27.26 hectares of land with total investment reaching Rp 8 trillion (US$784.31 million).

The name of the new security system in Tanah Abang will be Hulubalng Task Force (Satuan Tugas Hulubalang)

Bambang said military and police personnel close to retirement age would be invited to join the task force.