130 'Preman' to get religious education
130 'Preman' to get religious education
JAKARTA (JP): City Police yesterday sent 130 street hoodlums, known locally as preman, to the Al-Wasyilah Islamic boarding school in Jelambar, West Jakarta.
City Police chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, who presided over a ceremony at the boarding school, said that the preman would take part in a program at the school until August 17. He said the program followed suggestions made by the public regarding the proper handling of street crime.
"Physical exercise alone is not enough for them," said Dasuki Adnan, the head-master of the boarding school, adding that physical pressure might cause the preman to seek revenge. "Religious and spiritual education is indispensable if we want them to completely repent for their past wrongdoings.
After completing the education program, Dibyo added, the city police would continue to keep a close watch on the preman by holding monthly meetings with them. "We hope they will become aware and will not be street hoodlums anymore," he said.
Dibyo said he hoped that the program would be followed by other regional police commands nationwide.
Security officers, including police and the armed forces, have been conducting operations against preman since March. The operations began after a group of hoodlums attacked two officers from Jakarta's prestigious Police College.
The attack on the two plainclothes police officers took place on the exit ramp next to the Melawai Plaza building in the crowded Blok M shopping area in South Jakarta on March 6.
First Lieutenant Budi Prasetyo Utomo, 29, was fatally stabbed in the abdomen, while his companion, Capt. Arman Depari, 35, suffered several bruises to the face.
Since the incident took place security officers have arrested thousands of suspected street hoodlums.
There have been suggestions from some quarters that authorities deal with street crime using an integrated approach involving all people. It has been argued that the problem is not just a security problem, but also one related to social and economic ills, including urbanization and the dearth of job opportunities.(29)