City mulls curfew for street children

YOGYAKARTA: The local administration is considering a curfew for street children starting at 6 p.m. in a bid to clean up the city's streets.

"We will restrict their operation in the evening, especially on the city's main streets. Otherwise, they will be arrested by our law enforcement officers," Deputy Mayor Syukri Fadholi said early this week.

"The people have been complaining over the massive numbers of street children and beggars along our streets and at crossroads and have asked us to do something about it," he said, and that the policy would take effect soon.

Although the curfew is not officially in effect, the administration has begun conducting raids on street children and beggars who are found to be operating after 6 p.m.

"We are currently preparing a draft regulation," Syukri said. -- JP