Vice Jakarta Governor Basuki T Purnama is upset when hearing news over the arrest of one of Satpol PP personnel while cracking down street vendors (PKL) in Monas, Central Jakarta, Saturday (8/2).

W hen our men got injured on their heads, there is never a dossier made. What’s the reason? That’s why I said to Satpol PP to arm themselves

“Every time Satpol PP holds operation in Monas the personnel are always summoned by the police and getting a dossier for beatings case. That’s ridiculous. But when our men got injured on their heads, there is never a dossier made. What’s the reason? That’s why I said to Satpol PP to arm themselves ,” he stated at City Hall, Monday (8/4).

To sterilize Monas from street vendors, Basuki stressed that he is ready to fight with unscrupulous officials who have been backing up the street vendors and illegal parking attendants who have made Monas chaotic. That is why Satpol PP personnel will be fully armed, so they would no longer be threatened by those officials.

“So, no more threatening like this. Satpol PP personnel are just doing their duty to enforce the bylaw. How could they be arrested over beatings case? Clearly there are unscrupulous officials playing here,” he uttered.

Later, Satpol PP personnel would be equipped with sharp weapons, electroshock weapons, until bulletproof vests. Jakarta Provincial Government also has been getting assistance from the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) to handle unscrupulous officials involved in this case. The Paspampres even already sent a letter to dismiss TNI personnel involved.

For information, this case started when a Satpol PP officer was secured by Gambir Sector Police over allegedly beatings against street vendors during raid in Monas on Saturday (8/2).