Security Issues

Indonesia is probably best known for Bali, Bombs, Earthquakes and Tsunami’s. Out of the four, one is supposed to be paradise on earth, not much need to expand further on the other three except to say the latter two are natural while Bombs are certainly not.

The security issues within the archipelago are considered to be of the highest priority and much of this focus is evident in Jakarta with barricades, concrete block chicanes, high profile armed military forces and countless private security organizations protecting Banks, Government Buildings, Schools and Hotels.

Security is Indonesia’s growth industry, most expatriates have external security of some nature, every office and factory has their guards, bars, restaurants, petrol stations, you name it they have them. My driver, who for security reasons will remain un-named, was Head of Security for a company on the island of Batam. Training for this demanding position consisted of attending a Police Academy type camp where they ran around, drilled, availed themselves off lessons in how to blow a whistle, use a big stick and do a runner if there was any trouble. Comforting to know that the highest standards were employed in the creation of these elite private forces.

Jaga’s are another matter all together. They, for the most part are normal guys, who for a pittance of a wage will get in the way of the knife wielding marauder who is coming to nick your TV and rape your wife – NOT.

The Jaga’s function is basically to take the place of your Doberman, Pit Bull or Rottweiler without the dog shit. When the burglars arrive at the premises they first have to wake the Jaga up so he can raise the alarm, this could consist of whistling, screaming or flicking the lights on an off to attract the attention of the other Jaga’s on the street who will off course leg it in the opposite direction.

An acquaintance after having been soundly turned over with most of his goods and chattels having been swiftly siphoned from his premises, decided to review the security situation and went into overkill mode.

1)
He bought a very BIG dog
2)
He obtained CCTV around the perimeter of the premises, CCTV within the house and an Internet connection which allows one to remotely view the domestic routine from the office or any Internet Café.
3)
He arranged for 24 hour Police Protection comprising elite members of a special police group
4)
Managed to get hold of an extremely ilegal TASER (Wicked Electronic Stun Gun)

The TASER, as he put it was an afterthought, something to keep in the car in the event of problems while out and about. The new toy lay in the car unused, its efficiency untested, “Does this device really work” he thought to himself. A trial run became necessary so the dog got it! ZAP, the poor f**ker was on the floor, whimpering and twitching like something out of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. The results of Electro Convulsive Therapy seemed to satisfy the acceptance criteria for the functionality of said device, proof being the canine mass slobbering all over the marble floor. Took about 15 minutes for a recovery and the dog now keeps well away from his master. The TASER went back into the car, said gentleman is now comfortable about the stopping power (on dogs at least).

The real security issues however are very much kept out of the public eye. With the Government still searching for various radical individuals, there are unsubstantiated stories of police raids, vehicle searches, random stop & searches and tracing mobile phones. All very common practices within a siege environment, however, kept very quiet in the local media. (Ironically, ask your average Jakartan about the latest news and he will tell you the names of the suspects, where they were born, what their grandmother had for breakfast and what car he was last seen driving).

Having said all that, theft is a very common problem. If there is an interesting way to steal, someone in Jakarta probably invented it.

Road Crimes

In the past a common form of thievery was to snatch women's purses or men's watches through the open windows of cars at stop lights. The prevalence of air-conditioned cars today has reduced the opportunity for these petty thieves. Keeping your car doors locked at all times while in a car or taxi is mandatory.
Another method is to for naughty people to scatter tacks or nails in the street, and then they “offer to help” motorists who stop for flat tyres ... soon thereafter the assistance turns into a robbery. Knives and sickles are said to be the weapon of choice for most criminals who target car passengers and drivers. If you are stopped, it's best to surrender whatever is requested without a fight as their desperation can lead to violent acts. ( You’ll get a good gubbing) Others have chosen to drive on with the flat tyres - until they get to a well-lit public place to attend to the (then ruined) tyres.

In 2000 stories started circulating about people on the road who discovered their tyres were smoking. Of course they stop to see what the problem is, and then a group of locals begins to force their help upon them ... when in fact there is NOTHING wrong with the tyre. They had poured some substance on the road down the way ... knowing that many drives would notice the smoking tyres and stop their car down the road a ways.

Taxi crime

Crime perpetrated in taxis has been growing in recent years. The most common way of getting rolled is when the taxi driver stops to talk to a friend or give a friend a ride and the unwitting passengers are set upon and robbed by the group of vagabonds that are in cahoots with the taxi driver.

Another recent innovation is that the driver pushes back his chair and traps the passenger behind him by trapping his/her legs ... then they turn and rob you. If you are alone in a taxi, always sit on the left hand side in the back.

I was told by a seasoned veteran of many a campaign that he always checks to see that the child safety locks are not switched on and that the windows have handles. His claim is that some taxis are set up to minimize your escape routes with the handles taken off for the back seat windows and the child safety locks are activated - which means that you can't open the door from the inside. Clever people these rascals.

Public crime

The reaction of the crowd who takes the law into their own hands does much to deter public crime in Indonesia. Pickpockets who are caught in the act are often beaten by crowds that quickly form when the victim cries out in outrage. Often a pickpocket is caught by others who are on the watch for the personal safety of those around them.
Having seen at close hand a crowd really tearing into someone whose crime remains unknown to me, it reminded me of watching the wrestling on TV during Saturday afternoons many years ago. The wrestling takes second place to the ringside behaviour of the old grannies in the front row. These old Jakartan grannies were ripping into the poor bugger, half Nelsons, Boston Crabs and the Vulcan Death Grip while even the kids joined in with big sticks. GREAT!

Nightclub crime

Another plan of attack amongst thieves is to look for inebriated expatriates leaving a nightclub and follow them home where they would be robbed in their car/taxi or at their home in collaboration with a 'working girl' . There is no need to state the quite obvious precautions that could be taken to avoid being the victim of crime in these circumstances.

Alas, on the horizon, new threats approach and for the meantime the security policies have taken a second place to the new enemy, Avian Bird Flu. More on this looming crisis later.