1,381 bottles of liquor sold near schools seized

JAKARTA (JP): Public order officials with police backup seized a total of 1,381 bottles of liquor from shops and drink stalls located near 162 schools here during a month-long operation in March, an official said on Tuesday.

Toha Reno, head of public facility orderliness at the city public order office, told The Jakarta Post that during the operation, public order officials also confiscated three sharp weapons and several grams of shabu-shabu, or crystal methamphetamine.

According to Toha, the liquor, with a range of alcohol content between 14.7 percent and 40 percent, was seized from shops and stalls located some 100 meters away from schools.

The March 1 to March 31 operation was conducted at 196 schools across Jakarta, comprising 137 private schools and 59 state schools, including elementary, junior high and senior high schools, he said.

Students at the schools have been involved in street brawls in the capital, he said.

Toha said none of the vendors were detained.

"We just seized their merchandise," he said.

"According to the vendors, they only sell alcohol to boys who looks over 21 years of age and who are not wearing school uniforms. They claim to have never sold liquor to students from the nearby schools," he said.

Toha said the operation was the first of its kind conducted this year and was aimed at putting a stop to the escalating number of student brawls in the capital.

Such raids used to be carried out every three months by public order officials.

"We could not afford the raids last year due to a lack of funds. The budget this year is also very small.

"However, the current situation is already getting out of hand," he said.

This year alone, at least six students have been killed in more than 50 street brawls around the capital, Toha said.

In March, the city saw 15 street brawls, leaving at least one student dead, he said.

Thirty-four students suspected of provoking the March brawls are required to regularly report to appointed police subprecincts for evaluation of their behavior, Toha said.

The liquor seized in the March raids was taken from shops and drink stalls on Jl. Kayu Putih in East Jakarta, Cengkareng in West Jakarta, Jl. Sumur Batu in Central Jakarta and Tebet in South Jakarta.

"I cannot give you the names of the stores because it would be unethical," Toha said.

The 162 schools consisted of 33 private and 14 state schools in East Jakarta, 27 private and 10 state schools in West Jakarta, 30 private and nine state schools in Central Jakarta and 24 private and 15 state schools in South Jakarta.

The seized liquor included wine, vodka, Asoka whisky and Topi Miring. (ylt)