Lenny Tristia Tambun – Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo on Thursday redefined the duty of the city's Public Order squad as a "civilian force to help the government preserve public order and harmony," effectively canceling the home affairs minister's ruling that the security force should carry weapons.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi issued a 2010 decree authorizing the squad, known as Satpol PP, to carry gas-fed revolvers, electric-shock sticks, and other weapons. But on Thursday, the Jakarta governor declared in front of 5,000 members of Satpol PP that they were a force for peace and not one to harm people.

In a symbolic move, he took the batons from several members of the squad during the morning gathering.

"If anybody breaks the law or refuses to listen, do your job, but never harm them physically. Don't start a quarrel, just do your job," Joko told the squad. "Acting proportionally means stop using sticks, knives, and other weapons. "Satpol PP was established for peace and order, not for the opposite purpose."

Satpol PP is operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which deploys the force to all governors. The decree says the governors are representatives of the Indonesian president in their provinces so they must be facilitated with a civilian security force that helps them maintain public order.

In reality, however, Satpol PP has become notorious for its violent behavior against traders in traditional markets, sidewalk vendors, the destitute, beggars, and residents from the lower walks of life, including slum dwellers.

Even before the ministerial decree was issued, Satpol PP had been famous for its violent approach to creating public order. The decree gave it the legitimacy to act even more brutally, with members knowing that they were armed.

"Your duty is to create peace, tranquility and public order for the sake of all the residents of Jakarta," Joko said. "From now on, no one should use violent means or methods to physically harm any resident. You must apply dialog and persuasion while being firm in your action.

"You need to be firm in action, otherwise you will lose respect and authority. But do so proportionally. To be firm does not mean to be violent."

The governor told the officers that if they behaved violently, residents would assume that theirs is a cruel government. "That must not happen again," Joko said.

After giving them the advice, he asked some of the officers to demonstrate how they would deal with stubborn sidewalk vendors and sex workers.

The officers demonstrated how they would do it – rather awkwardly – to which the governor said: "From what I have just seen, I am confident that you will soon be able to approach them properly. But never shout at them or else you will incite a quarrel. No fighting should ever occur henceforth. Just perform your duty with passion."

Joko told journalists that Jakarta must become a clean and neat city, and the Satpol PP needed to help spread that idea.

"Their duty is to preserve public order in the city," he said. "The emphasis will be on finding the right solutions for the many problems gripping the city. These include dealing with sidewalk vendors in the market.

"We will find solutions for them because they need proper space to operate. Otherwise they will operate anywhere they want. That should not happen because we cannot afford to see a chaotic and dirty city."

Reports on Thursday said that about 3,000 Satpol PP officers would be assigned to the Transportation Department to secure the TransJakarta bus routes. The idea was introduced by Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama but Joko said he had to study it before making a decision.

Transportation figures said Basuki's proposal would be useful in keeping Trans-Jakarta lanes free from private motorists, which contribute to traffic jams during rush hour.

Effendi Anas, the commander of Jakarta's Satpol PP, said Joko's instructions would become the guideline for his officers to base their actions on. He said he had been trying to get his personnel to act more humanely and the governor's instructions would now strengthen his policy.

But social observers say Joko's bold plans may be limited by the low education levels of many Satpol PP officers, which influences the way they behave. The governor may need to improve their education, said Agus Pambagio, a University of Indonesia academic.

"The most important thing is eradicating illegal fees taken by Jakarta officials," he said. "The fact that so many illegal street vendors are allowed to operate in the city is proof that officials take bribes."