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)