Hoodlums are seeds of organized crime: Dibyo

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo warned yesterday against the rising phenomenon of hoodlums as they are the seeds of organized crime.

Dibyo said the fight against hoodlums should start as soon as possible, adding that it would be easier and cheaper than battling an organized crime ring.

"It will be more difficult for police to cope with the hoodlums if they are organized," he said.

Dibyo opened yesterday a workshop on the prevention of hoodlums. Participating were dozens of high and middle-ranking police officers.

Hoodlums, or preman as they are commonly referred to here, are a rising phenomenon in major urban centers in the country. They vary from sidewalk ruffians, market extortionists to pseudo- legitimate debt collectors.

Their rise has mostly been without an organized ring, as most of the hoodlums are unemployed youth.

Dibyo told his fellow officers to learn more about the history of organized crime in other countries in anticipation of its growth here.

The notorious Yakuza or Boryokudan in Japan, he said, could be an example of how petty criminals have evolved into one of the most sophisticated crime organizations in the world.

"The Boryokudan's embryo was the illegal gambling operations at the night market and public places," he said adding that the organization has now developed into a debt collecting and security service.

The hoodlums here, Dibyo said, have already been involved in land appropriations and debt collecting activities.

He also flatly denied suggestions that many hoodlums are "protected" by certain high ranking people.

In an effort to fight hoodlums, Dibyo said the police need help from all related departments.

"We need an integrated cooperation to solve this complicated problem," he said.

In 1995, while serving as Jakarta's police chief, Dibyo pledged to clear hoodlums from the streets of the capital. His pledge was precipitated by the murder of an off duty police officer by hoodlums at the Blok M bus terminal, South Jakarta.

Psychiatrist Mintarsih A. Latief said yesterday that a combined security and social approach should be employed when dealing with hoodlums.

She acknowledged that a security approach would likely have quick results, usually supported by a drop in the crime rate.

But, she warned, this would only be a temporary solution because once police ease their tight scrutiny, the offenses would start again.

Mintarsih agreed that eliminating hoodlums was not the sole responsibility of the police.

"Public participation is needed to solve this complex problem," she said.

Mintarsih unveiled a 12-point strategy to deter youths from becoming hoodlums which includes "intervention" and counseling by both families and converted hoodlums, providing employment opportunities along with preventing drug and alcohol abuse.

Sociologist Selo Soemardjan said hoodlums are a by-product of rapid economic development.

"Development will bring changes and changes will bring social disorganization," he said adding that the government should do its best to minimize the social cost of development. (10)