Ulma Haryanto – Humala Tambunan was feeling ambitious on Monday morning. "I'm aiming to net at least 40 people," said the mustached public order chief for Gambir in Central Jakarta, adding that officers in Cempaka Putih had only caught 24.

Humala was speaking to the Jakarta Globe about an hour after his officers began conducting raids to round up suspected hoodlums and buskers. Similar operations were being conducted across Central and North Jakarta as part of a monthlong effort to clear the city's streets of "unsavory" elements.

Conducting raids along Jalan Kebon Sirih, Humala's men had only caught 15 buskers by noon. Unhappy, he accused Effendi Anas, the newly appointed chief of the city's Public Order Agency, or Satpol PP, of leaking news of raids to the media.

"They knew we were coming," Humala grumbled before revealing he would change tactics next week. "We might conduct raids in the afternoon instead of at 10 a.m. We received reports that this is the area where pickpockets meet up and divide the fruits of their 'labor.'?"

He said those who "fit the cut" of the criminal-type would be handed over to the police, while the remainder would be sent to social rehabilitation centers in Kedoya, West Jakarta, and Cipayung, East Jakarta.

The Janitor

Irfan Kesuma, 20, was busking when he was stopped by public order officers in Gambir. He said he had to busk because his job as a janitor at an office of a private bank was not enough to cover his family's living expenses.

"I only get paid Rp 27,000 [$3] a day. But when I busk – just for three hours, from 9 a.m. until noon – I can earn an extra Rp 15,000," he told the Globe, adding that he and his elder sister both worked to feed their younger siblings and to give money to their mother.

"I only recently got the job in the bank. I actually had to work today, but now I've been caught. I don't know if they will release me any sooner than usual," he said.

The veteran

Despite his young age, 14-year-old Panji Sentosa, another busker, said he had already been caught at least three times by public order officers. "I'm not afraid anymore," he said. "They usually let me stay at the rehab center for a couple of days before letting me go."

Panji said that once released he would go straight back on to the streets, and simply live and busk in other areas. "My dad has no job and I have three younger siblings," he said. "I only busked for an hour today and I got Rp 20,000."

The singer

During Monday's operations, the Gambir Satpol officers managed to catch someone they called a "suspicious character."

Rafli Sondak, a lean 35-year-old dressed in a tattered T-shirt and sporting tattoos down both his arms, said he had been busking when he was caught. "I usually sing religious songs," he said before belting out a few bars.

Rafli said he was originally from Manado, North Sulawesi. "I just came here a year ago. I used to help out in the traditional markets before I decided to busk," he said. "I have no family here and no home. I normally sleep at Gondangdia Train Station in Central Jakarta.

"I busk from early morning till 10 a.m. before going back to sleep. I can get Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000 from busking alone."

Rehabilitation

Tatang, head of Satpol PP's rehabilitation division, said all of the buskers caught on Monday would be questioned before it was decided what would be done with them.

"If they have family here in Jakarta, we will return them to their family. They have to make a statement that they will not go back to the streets again though," he said. "Those not from Jakarta have to go back to where they came from."

Tatang said the buskers would be detained for at least 24 hours before being released. "We have to catch them and make sure that they don't disturb the public," he said, adding that raids in East and West Jakarta were expected to start today.