Maryadi/BI & GB, Pontianak – In Pontianak, West Kalimantan, up to 400 civilians recruited as 'People's Security' guards, or 'Kamra', staged a rowdy protest at the Governor's office Monday. Representatives stormed out of a meeting with government leaders when told they were the responsibility of the central government.
These protestors are part of the 40,000 civilians recruited nationwide in the lead up to the 1999 general election under the government of BJ Habibie. The guards, men from lower socio-economic classes, were ostensibly recruited to supplement the regular security forces but were also responsible for violent clashes with party supporters and the security forces attached to the various political parties.
The legislation which formalised their existence, UU No 56/1999, covered only one year with the option for a one-year extension, which the government took up last year. On December 31, 2000, the agreement is set to terminate and the future of 36,000 members who have not been recruited into the police, army or civil service remains uncertain. The police have handed the matter over to provincial governments.
The protest in Pontianak joined the outcry by Kamra members nation-wide. Last week, 11 Kamra representatives met the leaders of the House of Representatives to demand some certainty on their future. The representatives said that they wished to be accepted into the military, police or civil service.
In Pontianak, the protest was in full swing when the protestors' numbers increased to 400 after members from the nearby township of Koti Singkawang joined the group. Besides demanding certainty, Koti Singkawang members also demanded to be paid their salaries for the last two months.
Early in the day, the group had protested at the West Kalimantan Provincial Legislative Council. They demanded the Council members fight for their cause. The protest at this venue was marred by vandalism. It was reported that Kamra members damaged windows on a security post and several pot plants belonging to the Council.
Wearing their full uniform, the Kamra members conducted speeches. "We demand responsibility from the government which created us," one of the angry protesters said. Besides holding speeches, the group also displayed banners and posters, so that government officials took notice of their plight. Some of the banners read: "We Only Want Your Attention", 'Who's Responsible For Us" and "We Want Proof Not Promises". Kamra members also vandalised walls to display their messages.
The demonstrators finally got the attention of West Kalimantan Governor Aspar Aswin who agreed to meet representatives. A closed meeting was then conducted between the representatives, Governor, Deputy Governor Drs Djawari and Provincial Secretary HM Djapari.
However the meeting was short-lived. Despite the provincial government's promise to take up the aspirations of the Kamra members, they were unable to give a full guarantee. The provincial government stated that Kamra was established under the policy of the central government and that it was their problem. "We are fed up with all the promises," shouted some of the Kamra representatives before storming out of the room.
Disappointed at the fruitless meeting, the group then progressed to the West Kalimantan Police headquarters to meet Police Chief, Brig. Gen. Drs Atok Rismanto. However, they were told that he was out of town to attend an inauguration ceremony in the Putusibau Police District.