Male students shun usual hangouts

JAKARTA (JP): Favorite student hangouts, such as bus shelters and shopping centers, were noticeably free of young people over the weekend in the wake of police action against troublesome teenagers.

The bus shelters on Jl. Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta and Jl. Trunojoyo near the Bulungan high school complex in South Jakarta, were devoid of students, especially male students.

Lapangan Banteng, Gunung Sahari and Senen, areas in Central Jakarta where school students usually spend their leisure time after school, were also quieter on Saturday.

"They are probably afraid of the raids," Wati, a student of a state high school at Bulungan, told The Jakarta Post. She said her male friends had all gone home soon after school had finished.

Wati, who was waiting for a bus with female school mates, welcomed the police operation against students, adding that she expects more raids in the future.

City Police officers have conducted simultaneous raids on students loitering the streets following recent brawls, which claimed three lives.

Students also stayed away from the Blok M shopping center in South Jakarta. They usually gather there to chat and hang around before going home.

The South Jakarta police have released some 150 students who were apprehended in three days of raids. They seized three machetes, two swords and 25 belts which had bicycles cogwheels attached in place of buckles.

"There have been no operations against students today. The operation will be continued on Monday," a South Jakarta police officer said on Saturday.

He confirmed that the police have detained three hoodlums who were wearing high school uniforms.

He added the hoodlums were released after they signed statements saying that they would not make any further trouble. (04)