Training for civilian militia postponed

Training for civilian militia postponed

JAKARTA (JP): The training of the capital's People's Security
(Kamra) forces, scheduled to start on Monday, was postponed
because about half of the 6,000 people who had registered for the
civilian militia failed to meet the requirements, an official
said.

Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said
on Friday night that about 3,000 of those registered were
rejected because they could not meet the minimal education
requirement, demanding them to have graduated from at least
junior high school.

"Many people are interested in the Kamra program, but
unfortunately most of them graduated only from elementary
schools," Nachrowi said after a post-Idul Fitri gathering in the
command headquarters in East Jakarta.

A week earlier, he said that only one-fourth of the number
failed to meet the administrative prerequisites.

Nachrowi said on Friday that the decision to postpone the
training was also due to the fact that preparations of training
activity sites were not completed.

"It's not canceled, but just delayed until the venues are
ready," he said, declining to give a precise date for when the
training would start.

The training program for the controversial militia was
previously scheduled to start on Feb. 1, but was moved to Feb. 8
for similar reasons.

The 6,000 people signing up for the capital's militia is half
the military's eventual target of 12,000.

The recruitment, targeting male citizens between 18 and 45
years old, was opened on Jan. 11, an will last until March 12.

Applicants are not required to pay anything to register for
the force, which, according to the command's officers, was aimed
at assisting police in maintaining law and order and safeguarding
the capital during June's general election.

Nachrowi earlier said the recruits would be trained at 14
training centers belonging to the Armed Forces (ABRI) across the
capital.

The training centers include the command's main regimental
headquarters in Condet, East Jakarta; the health training center
in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta; and the traffic police training
center in Serpong, Tangerang.

During the two-week training, each member will receive Rp
100,000. They will receive Rp 200,000 per month after they are
employed.

Those passing the administrative screening test will be
trained for two weeks to enhance their discipline, strength and
knowledge, Nachrowi said.

Nachrowi insisted that none of the Kamra personnel would be
armed with guns or any deadly weapons.

The recruits would only be equipped with rattan sticks and
shields and would not be organized to support certain political
parties, he said.

Kamra members would be supervised by the city police, and
would be authorized to carry out various police duties, including
checking ID cards, making arrests and taking information from
suspects, he said. (jun)