•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

A number of illegal community security barriers that blocked access to streets in South Jakarta were torn down on Tuesday.

South Jakarta Mayor Syahrul Effendi himself led the charge, overseeing the dismantling of at least 10 neighborhood barricades that had been preventing access to public roads, as well as the removal of 20 illegal speed bumps to increase traffic flow.

Despite criticism from local residents, none turned out to protest as the barriers were removed by public order officers using gas cutters in streets that included Jalan Cisanggiri II in Kebayoran Baru, Jalan Sebret in Pasar Minggu, Jalan Bendi Raya in Kebayoran Lama and Jalan Pendidikan in Cilandak.

Syahrul said that of 1,224 barriers in South Jakarta, 85 would be removed by the end of the month, including in the upmarket Pondok Indah area.

He said that apart from impeding road users, the security barriers were a safety risk and often prevented fire engines from using shortcuts to emergencies .

“What we are doing is legitimate, based on the governor’s instructions,” he said, adding that the action had been announced in advance.

In response to concerns from members of the communities, Syahrul guaranteed that the removal of the gates would not jeopardize security in the area, saying that the South Jakarta municipality was working with police and public order officers to ensure the areas were protected.

“There are all kinds of protection. There’s the internal kind — through neighborhood watch — and those that come from outside, like the police and public order officers.”

He said that for the time being, it was advisable that residents reactivate their dormant neighborhood watch organizations.

Subiantoro, a neighborhood leader, said that the dismantling of the security barriers had been announced in advance and that the majority of residents had agreed to it.

He said the security gates had been built after the 1998 riots to restore the residents’ sense of peace and safety.

“The residents had chipped in to build the barriers. They have no objection to them being removed because security in the area has improved,” he said.