Graffiti in Jakarta

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