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)