Governor Sutiyoso’s “Wars on Vice”: Criminal Enterprises, Islamist Militias, and Political Power in Jakarta

Abstract

Following a series of elections, the reformasi period that began in 1998 with the forced resignation of President Suharto led to a partial renewal of the political personnel. But, against all expectations, certain key figures from the New Order regime succeeded in surviving the liberalization process. One of the most enigmatic of these figures was unquestionably the governor of Jakarta, former major-general Sutiyoso, who was appointed by Suharto, defended by Megawati Sukarnoputri, and was the military mentor of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,¹ who reappointed him. In his nearly ten years of running the capital’s municipal government Sutiyoso managed to build a formidable power structure. Through his diverse support system he could count at various times on personal networks in the army, on the martial arts centers controlled by the barons of the betawi community, and on violent Islamist militias. His main repertoire for political legitimacy varied little, however. He always presented himself as a champion of the “war on vice” (drugs, prostitution, alcoholism, gambling) and within that framework developed tactical alliances with veritable Islamist entrepreneurs of urban violence such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).