Relatively quiet on the graduation front

Relatively quiet on the graduation front

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of secondary students celebrated their
graduation day by spray painting their clothes and hair,
showering buses with water and jumping on top of buses. Shopping
centers saw crowds of the untidy students.

Everything was under control, Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col.
Hamami Nata said.

Over 80,000 students from state and private schools sat the
examinations this year.

Some passersby were painted with multicolored sprays from the
jubilant youngsters.

Students from Cikini schools near Jl. Surabaya in Central
Jakarta were ordered down from the roof of a full Metro Mini bus
by police.

In Kuningan, South Jakarta, others in their scribbled on and
spray painted uniforms enjoyed lunch at Pasar Festival, where a
circus was opening.

Further south, a happy headmaster turned a hose on thousands
of his screaming students. The shower has become a tradition
among graduates at SMU 70 state high school.

They once used hoses from the fire brigade, but have shifted
to the parks office's hoses because the office has cleaner water.

After hearing reports from all five mayoralty police chiefs,
Hamami was satisfied there were no fatalities or serious injuries
during this year's celebration. He said this was thanks to
cooperation between school staff and police. Last year a few
students were injured in a brawl in East Jakarta.

"School staff asked police to help them prevent any problems,"
he said. (anr/jun)