Brawlers to join ABRI's Rural Civic Action

JAKARTA (JP): The involvement of students in the Armed Forces Rural Civic Action (AMD) is positive and needs encouragement, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said yesterday.

At the inauguration of an AMD team, involving 500 military personnel and 150 senior high school students, in South Jakarta yesterday Sutiyoso said in this program students would be encouraged to be mindful of their neighborhoods.

"In this way they will get away from possible street brawls," Sutiyoso said at the ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture's soccer field on Jl. Palapa, Pasar Minggu.

"We evaluated the first AMD program last year, which involved students, and found the results were very positive," Sutiyoso said.

He said students known for frequent brawling were chosen to take part in the program. "They were chosen by their school principals."

"We found that none of the students who joined the program last year have been involved in brawls again. So, we hope more students join the program in the future."

The two-star general said that while in the program the students and military officers helped build and repair roads, mosques and schools in five subdistricts South Jakarta.

Sutiyoso said the military command yesterday also inaugurated six other AMD teams in West, Central, East and North Jakarta military districts and Bekasi and Tangerang military districts.

The AMD program is one of the City Military's efforts to curb student brawls, another program is "a military course". Students notorious for brawling are given military training for two weeks before being returned to their parents.

"We want more programs for students so they spend their energies on positive activities."

The City Police also runs a program to prevent brawling, it is called Pelajar Siaga (Student Alert) and it started last year.

At least 15 students were killed in brawls in the city last year. Some of the killers have been arrested and tried, while some are still at large. (jun)