Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 07/20/2010 8:43 AM | Headlines
Travel by helicopter and living in Merdeka Palace are just two ideas offered to reduce disruptions from the President’s travel in Jakarta, after a motorist reported rough treatment from his security escorts.
President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono has been publicly criticized after Kompas daily published a letter from a motorist that alleged he received ill-treatment from one of the guards of the President’s motorcade.
In response to the criticism, the Merdeka Palace said it is preparing new standard operating procedures (SOP) for the security measures surrounding the President. “The military secretary, the Presidential Security Guards [Paspampres] and the traffic police are currently reformulating the SOPs for security measures for the President,” spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha told the press at the Presidential Office on Monday.
“We are now waiting for the new SOPs, which will be part of the future policy to ensure the security of the President,” he added.
Critics have suggested that Yu-dhoyono should live in the Palace, which is also the President’s official residence, or that he commute from his private home in Cikeas, which is about 20 kilometers from the Palace, via helicopter.
Concerns of congestion caused by the Presidential motorcade peaked after a man who lives near Yudho-yono’s residence, Hendra NS, complained in a letter published by Kompas that security officers treated him abusively while he waited for Yu-dhoyono’s motorcade to pass.
Julian said the alleged mistreatment of Hendra was under investigation.
Many residents of Cibubur expressed frustration with the delays that occur whenever Yudhoyono travels to are from Cikeas.
Traffic police are required to stop traffic for almost 30 minutes for the motorcade under the current SOPs.
The motorcade typically consists of a dozen vehicles, including two bulletproof limousines, one of which carries the President; military vehicles of the presidential guard; an ambulance and traffic police cars and motorcycles.
The motorcade usually follows a route that crosses the Palace, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, the Semanggi toll gate, the Jagorawi toll road before reaching Cikeas.
Julian said that the President usually commutes to Cikeas late at night or very early in the morning.
He also said Yudhoyono spent considerable amount of time at the Palace, and often requested that streets not be blocked for his motorcade, and that his motorcade use fewer vehicles.
Deputy chairman of Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party Max Sopacua said the motorcade issue has been exaggerated by the President’s political rivals. “Do not generalize [the issue]. I have often experienced traffic jams when traveling in Cibubur — and they are not all caused by the President. Why does this issue have to be raised?” he said.
“Are all traffic jams caused by the President?” he added.
Max also dismissed the suggestion that Yudhoyono stay at the Palace. Yudhoyono has personal and family matters that he wants to settle at his private residence, Max added.
He also rejected a suggestion that the President had already been given an official house inside the capital, saying it would only trigger other criticisms, this time on the use of state money to prepare the capital residence.
Yudhoyono had previously come under criticism after a deadly traffic accident in November 2004 when his motorcade officers blocked Jagorawi toll road. Six people were killed in the accident while nine others were severely wounded.
No comments:
Post a Comment