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)