Police handling of delinquency criticized
Police handling of delinquency criticized
JAKARTA (JP): Islamic youth leaders criticized the police
yesterday for ineffective case by case action on juvenile
delinquency.
The chairman of Muhammadiyah Youths, Hadjrianto Tohari, said
that comprehensive concepts are needed to curb delinquency,
student brawls and drug abuse.
Muhammadiyah is a modernist Moslem organization with 28
million members throughout the country.
He also criticized the government for allowing only one
student association, OSIS. "Students need more organizations to
express their creativity. While now there is only the government-
backed OSIS," he told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
He referred to the prohibition of student Islamic
organizations such as Muhammadiyah Students Association and
Nahdlatul Ulama Students Association from schools.
According to Hadjrianto, these organizations could help
students spend their time for positive activities. The
organizations could also provide valuable sociopolitical
education.
"We want the Ministry of Education and Culture to permit the
operation of organizations other than OSIS at high schools," he
said.
Another youth leader, Yoga Mauladi, shared Hadjrianto's
opinion that the municipality's policies on the marketing of
alcoholic drinks, the circulation of drugs and prostitution must
be clarified. The head of communication affairs of the Islamic
Student Association pointed out that hard liquor, drugs and
prostitution are supposed to be curbed or prohibited, but law
enforcement has been weak.
"Alcoholic drinks, drugs and prostitution have become
industries. We need both the government's political will and the
people's alertness to stop this," he said.
Crimes and security disturbances committed by youths and
students are increasing in frequency.
Police data report there have been 123 cases of security
disturbances committed by youths and students during the first
six months of this year. In comparison, there were 80 cases in
1993 and 183 last year.
However, Hadjrianto said the record did not indicate
deterioration of the morals of the country's young people.
Hadjrianto and Yoga were interviewed during a seminar on Islam
and Youths at the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication
yesterday.
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas opened
the one-day seminar. Many scholars attended the seminar sponsored
by the organizing committee of Istiqlal Festival II.
Dadang Hawari, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia who
attended the seminar, said that young people are simply victims
of the current situation. They must not be blamed.
"The authorities must stop the marketing of alcoholic drinks,
and the illegal distribution of drugs," he said. "The decision
makers should also have the broadcasting of violent films
reduced."
Alcohol, drugs and films full of violence have motivated
people, especially youths, to commit crimes, he said.
Minister Azwar Anas told the Post that religion can play an
important role in preventing juvenile delinquency.
"I appeal to all parents to educate their children in
religious matters in order to achieve a strong younger generation
who will be able to face any threat in the future," he said. (29)