'Relocate schools to avoid brawls'

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata suggested yesterday that the authorities immediately relocate schools that are situated close to each other or near shopping centers to avoid student brawls which usually resulted in destruction.

"I've aired this suggestion since 1987 when I was chief of the Central Jakarta Police, but it seems nobody heard me," Hamami told a meeting of executives of transportation firms.

According to Hamami, police have learned that student brawls mostly occurred where schools are situated close to each other or near shopping centers.

"When the schools close in the afternoon, a sea of around 5,000 students flock to the same place, waiting for buses to get home," Hamami said.

This situation, he said, could easily provoke the young people into doing something that could lead to a brawl.

"It's almost impossible to stop the students in such a situation," Hamami said.

"It's the same with students whose schools are located near shopping centers, such as those near the Blok M shopping center in South Jakarta," he said.

Hamami hoped that the suggestion would be "heard" by the concerned parties, such as the school owners, teachers and authorities.

"What I want is to relocate the schools and build new ones with complete facilities on the outskirts of the city," he said.

According to data from the city-owned PPD bus transport company, at least two buses are damaged every day by students.

During the meeting, Hamami also suggested that transport companies provide warning lights on the top of buses, and glass partitions in taxis.

A number of taxi drivers have been murdered in the past few months in and around the city. (bsr)