Bogor gets tough on students involved in brawls

Bogor gets tough on students involved in brawls

BOGOR (JP): The mayoralty's education ministry office has
called on schools to dismiss students involved in brawls or found
in the possession of weapons.

The office's head of youth affairs and sports, Ade Syarif
Hidayat, said on Wednesday the warning was issued because student
brawls in the city showed no signs of abating despite a recent
joint operation targeting delinquent students.

In the latest crackdown on Wednesday, a joint team of school
principals, education ministry office personnel, city
administration officials and police officers netted 67 students
from various schools and seized from them at least 14 sharp
weapons and dozens of objects commonly used as weapons by
students during brawls.

Also confiscated was a bottle of liquor and two pornographic
VCDs.

The students were apprehended in two areas where brawls
frequently occur -- the Bogor Internusa shopping mall and the
Pomad Kedung Halang T-junction.

Ade said some of those detained were among the 102 students
netted in a similar operation in November last year.

"We have been lenient with the students. Those netted in the
November crackdown were just asked to sign a statement of
repentance and promise not to take part in anymore brawls," Ade
said.

Tb. Ruchyani Atmakusuma, who led Wednesday's operation, said
two of the students who were netted were in junior high school,
another two attended high school and the rest were from
vocational high schools.

Ruchyani expressed concern over the increasing number of
student brawls, which often leave students injured.

"My main concern, however, is the fact that the students now
go around in groups that have special names," Ruchyani said.

Bastar (Bus Terminal Force) and Banker (Train Force) are among
the more notorious student groups.

The chief of the police's people order maintenance, Adj. Comr.
Wahyu Wiyadi, said students who were found in the possession of
weapons could not evade the law. The students, he said, could
face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for possessing
illegal weapons, according to Emergency Law No. 2/1951. (21)