Brawling hits Bali

Brawling hits Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Dozens of students were injured, one
seriously, in a brawl involving students from several schools on
Monday, police said yesterday.

The rumble, which local educators said was the first of its
kind on the island, involved high school students from Denpasar
and Singaraja.

Police in Tabanan said the brawl broke out at a graduation
celebration near Beratan Lake in Tabanan. Hundreds of students
from both schools had gone to the lake to party. The police were
uncertain who started the fight.

One student had his car vandalized while trapped inside during
the fight.

Educators, government officials and the public all expressed
their concern.

"In the future, it would be better to celebrate graduating
inside school complexes. I know in a case like this teachers
cannot supervise their students," said A.A. Bagus Gede Netera,
the spokesman for the Bali education department.

A Gianyar education official suggested students celebrate by
holding a mass prayer at school. (23/pan)