'People behind thugs should be arrested'

Responding to mounting public outcry against thugs, city police and the military launched last week a joint campaign against thuggery in the capital. The Jakarta Post interviewed residents to get their views on the campaign, which will last one month.

Baskoro Adi Wiyono, 25, a scriptwriter who lives in South Jakarta.

Thuggery is obviously a cause for concern in Jakarta. However, it can't be easily dealt with because there must be someone behind the big bosses of the thugs.

City police should be consistent in their raids. I agree that such measures are needed as a deterrent to criminals. But they shouldn't merely catch them, they should take them to court.

Furthermore, it should not be only the ones on the street who are targeted. The bosses should be arrested. The police shouldn't let thuggery be a prolonged problem.

Ratnadewi, 26, a public relations officer in Jakarta.

Basically, what the police are doing could turn out to be a good thing. That is if the raids are followed up with other measures.

The authorities should look deeper into the root of the problem, for example social and economical problems that prompt such behavior in the first place.

Thuggery exists because of the lack of employment. Therefore, after arresting the thugs, the authorities should find a way to keep them out of the business by teaching them skills.

With additional skills, they could join the workforce.

--The Jakarta Post