Jakarta deploys troops against muggers, stirring dark memories

AI Summary

Jakarta has deployed joint police-military patrols to combat a surge of violent motorbike muggings, a move welcomed by many residents but criticized by rights groups. The deployment raises concerns about blurring lines between law enforcement and military authority, evoking memories of past authoritarian abuses in Indonesia.

Jakarta residents have largely welcomed a new police-military campaign against violent street crime, after a wave of brazen motorbike muggings struck fear into Indonesia’s capital. But rights advocates warn that deploying soldiers alongside police blurs a line between law enforcement and military power, reviving memories of extrajudicial killings in a country still haunted by its authoritarian past. On May 15, Jakarta police announced the formation of a special, 24-hour joint patrol task force...