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