Graffiti in Jakarta

From Pelita

The graffiti we see on walls, bus stops, buses, buildings and gates in Jakarta are mostly the work of teenage schoolchildren. Psychologists are wont to say that such acts reflect the teenagers' wish to assert themselves, without ever explaining to the public why they should express themselves through graffiti.

Their acts greatly spoil the neatness of the city. Jakarta's military district command once erected pillars to accommodate graffitists, but graffiti in the city center did not diminish.

I'd like to see our capital clean of such writings and suggest the city administration coordinate its personnel to clean up the mess. Additionally a task force should patrol the streets at night, the time favored by graffitists, to catch the wrongdoers while in the act. However, the best supervision should come from parents. They are well placed to see whenever their beloved children sneak out of their homes with spray cans of paint in hand at midnight.

The Jakarta administration, with Adipura awards heaped on it, should be more aware of the city's cleanliness and not be oblivious to the defacing of the city. The Adipura evaluation team should not give good marks to a city with lots of graffiti.

DANANG PRIAMBODO

Bekasi, West Java