Ramadhan crackdown seeks to keep capital clean

Jakarta, NU Online
During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan officials from Greater Jakarta are intensifying their crackdowns on street crimes, liquor and firecrackers as well as prostitutes, beggars, buskers and street kids.

Darwis Silitonga, chief of enforcement at the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) said officials had confiscated more than 5,000 bottles of liquor from North and West Jakarta during a series of raids intended to coincide with Ramadan, which began on Aug. 1.

Darwis said Satpol PP officials would also conduct raids in other districts.

Police in Bogor also conducted crackdowns on alcohol, saying that 1,350 bottles of liquor had been confiscated when police raided shops on Jalan Pajajaran and Jalan Soleh Iskandar as well as around the Bubulak and Baranangsiang public minivan, or angkot, terminals.

“We have also confiscated thousands of firecrackers from several hawkers operating near the terminals,” said Iman Imanuddin, chief of Bogor Police’s crime unit, as quoted by the Jakarta Globe.

“We have also arrested dozens of hoodlums operating at Bogor train station. The location is prone to acts of crime.”

Iman said that police and city officials were conducting the raids to tackle “the source of people’s unrest during Ramadan. We hope that with this crackdown people will be more comfortable performing Ramadan rituals.”

Darwis said Satpol PP Jakarta would also get tough on “people with social problems,” or PMKS, a reference used to describe prostitutes, beggars, buskers and street kids. During Ramadan, he said, 579 PMKS had been arrested and sent to social welfare offices and boarding homes.

Darwis said that a raid on firecrackers had been conducted in West Jakarta, confiscating more than 1,000 firecrackers.

Since July 24, Satpol PP Jakarta has been dismantling Ramadan-related banners featuring prominent and lesser-known political figures, large numbers of which have been hoisted on the streets of Jakarta.

The agency has deployed more than 4,000 officials to remove banners found along major roads and has so far confiscated more than 16,000 political promotional items with expired permits.

“We did issue permits for this political party material but we only give permits for six days. Once that passes, we will take them down,” he said.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said that the 2012 gubernatorial race was a major reason for the increase in political paraphernalia, including banners bearing his image.

“If they are illegal, take them down,” Fauzi said. The governor is expected to stand for re-election. “Don’t let Jakarta become chaotic just because a lot of people want to become governor,” he said.

In Bogor, police are planning to redirect traffic in anticipation of an influx of people arriving for Idul Fitri celebrations, which mark the end of Ramadan on Aug. 30 and 31.

Lukman Syarif, chief of Bogor Police traffic unit, said several intersections, such as the one in front of Bogor Trade Mall and Plaza Ekalokasari, would be partially closed, while some two-way streets would only allow traffic to flow one way. (dar)