Police Set Up Special Task Force to Monitor Food Prices Ahead of Fasting Month, Ied Day

Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian, accompanied by Home Affairs Minister, Agriculture Minister, and Bulog President Director, gives a press statement on the Establishment of the Basic Food Commodities Task Force at the Headquarters of the Indonesian National Police in Jakarta, Wednesday (3/5)

In an effort to keep the stability of food price ahead of this year’s Fasting Month (Holy Month of Ramadhan) and Ied Day, the Indonesian National Police and a number of ministers have set up a Basic Food Commodity Task Force led by Inspector General Police Setyo Wasisto.

Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian said that the Task Force would be in charge of monitoring food prices in traditional markets and the result of the monitoring will be evaluated every two weeks.

“The Task Force will not only monitor prices and supply of basic food commodities but is also tasked to carry out law enforcement against food cartel and mafia,” Tito said to reporters at the Headquarters of the Indonesian National Police in Jakarta on Wednesday (3/5).

According to Tito, the Task Force will not only be set up at the Central Government level but also at regional levels in cooperation with a number of related agencies such as Agricultural Agency and Trade Agency.

On the same day, the Chief of the Indonesian Police also held a videoconference at the Headquarters with Chiefs of Regional Police, Governors, Regents, and Mayors from several regions in Indonesia. From the videoconference, it was found out that basic food commodity supply in regions across Indonesia is safe until the Ied Day.

“Supply of basic food commodities is safe and now we are handling the issue of distribution chain that are still marred by speculators, hoarders, and cartels,” Tito said.

The cooperation among institutions and the establishment of the Task Force was done following the instruction of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to a number of ministers to stabilize the price of basic food commodities during a Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Preparation of Ramadhan and Ied Day.

Therefore, the National Police, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), and Customs Offices have agreed to set up the Task Force and to hold the videoconference.

Also joining the videoconference were Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, President Director of Bulog Djarot Kusumayakti and Head of KPPU Syarkawi Rauf, as well as a number of Regional Police Chiefs, Resort Police Chiefs, Heads of Agricultural Agencies, Heads of Trade Agencies, Governors, Mayors and Regents from a number of regions.

Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita joined the videoconference from Semarang, Central Java. (ANT/ES)  (Naster/YM/EP)