Military enlists students in discipline drive

Military enlists students in discipline drive

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Command has enlisted high
school students in the National Discipline campaign launched last
month mainly to motivate people to obey laws.

Jakarta Military Chief Maj. Gen. Wiranto secured the support
of at least 1,000 students during a meeting to discuss the
campaign at the Jakarta Theater on Saturday.

"Yes, yes!" the students said in chorus when Wiranto asked
them if they would like to participate in the discipline drive.

The event was organized jointly by the Jakarta branches of the
Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of
Information, the City Military Command, the Association of
Indonesian Private Radio Stations, and the Pelita Ilmu
Foundation.

The students won Wiranto's confidence by turning up on time
for the gathering, something which he duly acknowledged.

"I'm asking you students to join with officers in spearheading
the national discipline campaign in the city," he said.

The high school students could either take an active part, by
reminding people to change their habits, or a passive role,
simply by setting examples for others, he said.

The National Discipline Campaign, which was launched by
President Soeharto on May 20, chose Jakarta as a pilot project.
The city military and the administration officially launched
their operation on June 23.

The campaign is aimed at compelling members of the public to
observe basic disciplines such as standing in line, throwing
garbage in the proper place, turning up for work on time and
maintaining public order. Traffic violations, for which the
motorists of the metropolis are notorious, have also been
included in the campaign.

The operation, which involves more than 4,000 officers, has
netted more than 22,000 violators. They were fined or
reprimanded.

Wiranto told the senior high school students that they could
become pioneers of the discipline campaign because they have the
number and the potential power.

Semyon Sinulingga, head of the city branch of the Ministry of
Information, said discipline should be acquired from as early an
age as possible.

Senior high school students can have a strong influence on
other people, he said. "Others would feel ashamed and compelled
to observe the same kind of discipline that the young people are
showing."

Semyon said the city administration has organized a series of
programs for high school students designed to fill their spare
time with productive activities.

The programs include work training at private sector and
government offices.

These programs, he pointed out, are also helpful in
strengthening discipline. (29)