Actions to deter student brawls considered

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of the Agency for National Stability and Security (Bakorstanas) has vowed to put a stop to student brawls by regularly holding seminars.

Jakarta Military Command's chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Yudhoyono, said yesterday that seminars or symposiums will be held to find a concept which will deter students from brawling.

Yudhoyono said yesterday the concept should address all causes of such brawls and solve the lingering problem.

"We plan to seek a comprehensive concept which can solve all causes of the problem," Yudhoyono said.

He added the agency will cooperate with other related parties such as the police, city administration and the education and culture ministry as well as parents and students.

Yudhoyono said aspects which should be reviewed are school structures, lack of facilities in schools, teaching methods which enable students to spend most of their time outdoors, the commitment of parents and society.

"We will hold seminars or symposiums to seek the concept and intensify crackdowns on recalcitrant students who still brawl," he said.

Student brawls have flared up recently and given rise to deep concern among the government and public alike as many high school students have resorted to violence, resulting in at least three students being killed in the past two weeks.

Yudhoyono said finding a concept that will lead to a solution is important because police operations will not completely solve the problem.

The problem will not be overcome by arresting brawling students because it is not touching the root of the problem.

"The police operation is merely shock therapy for the students," he said.

Yudhoyono said the military will back up the police operation by holding a joint operation code-named Wijayakusuma.

The chief of staff also said the military command will continue the plan to set up a Military Training Command aimed at training students under strict military discipline.

"The idea will be continued but there are many things which should be settled such as the place, the teachers and the training period," he said.

However, the general did not say if the Military Command intended to continue a plan drawn up by his predecessor to build military posts near schools.

Maj.Gen. Wiranto, the previous commander, had security posts built near schools located in areas prone to brawls. The policy was only briefly implemented. Now the posts have been left vacant with no security officers in them. The officers usually left the posts when brawls took place.

Yudhoyono also said that up until now, Bakorstanas has not found evidence that third parties are behind student brawls for personal interests.

When asked about the result of a study which indicated that some students are paid by businesspeople to make trouble, Yudhoyono said that his agency will investigate it. (yns)