Upset Kamra leave Jakarta, plan response

Upset Kamra leave Jakarta, plan response

JAKARTA (JP): Angry with the government, approximately 1,000
People's Security Militia (Kamra) members from Central Java left
the capital for their hometowns on Thursday, pledging to do
"something" to express their dissatisfaction.

"Let's see what we'll do back home," Putut Edi Sutrisno, a
leader of the group, said as he broke into tears after meeting
with related government ministers and a senior member of the
House of Representatives.

Putut added: "There are more than 5,000 Kamra members in
Central Java that will be disappointed by the decision. I will
not guarantee their disappointment will not turn ugly."

The members of the group had demanded to be allowed to apply
for positions with the police or military, a demand that was
rejected. The government instead offered the group 150 vacant
overseas jobs, or the chance to register with provincial
transmigration offices to take part in the government-sponsored
transmigration scheme.

The administration, after a brief meeting with a senior member
of the House, decided on Thursday to dissolve Kamra and give each
member Rp 1 million (US$105), or about four times their monthly
salary. There are 36,000 Kamra personnel nationwide.

Initially, the government planned to disband Kamra on
Wednesday.

In the meeting with House Deputy Speaker Sutardjo
Soerjoguritno the government was represented by Minister of
Defense Mahfud M.D., Minister of Manpower and Transmigration
Alhilal Hamdi and National Police deputy chief Insp. Gen. Pandji
Atmasudirdja.

Five Kamra representatives, including Putut, also took part in
the 90-minute meeting at the House.

After the meeting, Sutardjo explained the details of the
government's decision to the five Kamra representatives and
journalists.

After the announcement, Putut began to scream and cry, leaving
all those in the room, including the two ministers, in stunned
silence.

Seconds later, Sutardjo and all of the government officials
left the room.

According to Mahfud, the government has decided to dissolve
Kamra on Friday. The decision will be put into practice when
ceremonies are simultaneously held in every police precinct and
subprecinct across the country.

After being officially dismissed, each Kamra member will
receive their Rp 1 million compensation.

The Central Java Kamra members, who arrived in Jakarta on
Saturday, left for home aboard a Sapujagat train provided by the
government.

Kamra was established in 1998 during the tenure of then
defense minister and armed forces chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto. The
group was formed as part of the plan to bolster security in the
country. (byg/02)