Halt the hooligans

Halt the hooligans

From Panji Masyarakat

Hooliganism in Jakarta is nothing new. Different efforts have been made to find a solution to the social problem, but none has achieved tangible results.

It appears the police and the Armed Forces are completely bewildered by this particular problem. Scholars have utilized different theories at their disposal to cure this social illness, but still the medicine is not effective.

Hooliganism is a dilemma. If no measures are taken against them, or the hoodlums are given the equivalent of a slap on the wrists in accordance with the existing criminal code, their behavior is increasingly brutal.

These thugs will step up their crimes -- extortion, holdups, robberies, rape -- and commit others openly.

Resorting to the extreme measure of shooting them on site is not commendable, either, some intellectuals argue such a measure is inhumane, a violation of human rights and, after all, they are our fellow countrymen.

Unfortunately, these intellectuals do not give any alternatives on how this social disease should best be treated. They only offer time-worn answers which have no effect whatsoever. These perfunctory statements give explanations for the hooligans' behavior -- poor religious upbringing, lack of affection, negative impact of development, or the influence of TV programs. And the authorities resort to superficial actions which have only temporary gains.

I wonder why they do not deal with this problem in a thorough manner by examining different aspects. It is obvious that this problem should be looked at from economic dimensions. Economic difficulties can give rise to hooliganism. More determined efforts must be made to handle hooliganism in Jakarta.

IKHSAN ATMAWIGUNA

Jakarta