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)