Security tightened as students revel

Security tightened as students revel

JAKARTA (JP): Many police and military officers were deployed
to prevent incidents arising when high school students, who were
celebrating the end of their final school year, went wild on
Saturday.

The officers were posted, among other locations, near the
schools on Jl. Budi Utomo in Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta,
because students of the schools, who call themselves Boedoet
students, have a reputation for sparking brawls with students
from other schools.

"About 100 military and police officers were deployed in this
area after we were informed that the high schools' final
examination results would be announced today," Sergeant Harnoto
told The Jakarta Post.

The celebration started with the students autographing their
friends' shirts, but it turned into an egg-throwing melee.

There are five high schools located on Jl. Budi Utomo: SMA 1
(high school), STM 1 (technical high school), STM 5, STM PGRI 4,
and STM PGRI 5.

"We collected three kilograms of eggs over the last few days
together with students of STM 1 because we share the same
building," Fitrianingsih, a student of STM PGRI 4, said.

"I know that I will graduate, so why are we not allowed to
enjoy the fun? It only happens once in our lives," Fitrianingsih
added.

The students' white and gray uniforms turned into multicolored
canvasses of pens and paint. Students took joy in inviting as
many friends as possible to autograph their shirts for mementos.

But their celebration changed into the spraying of paint all
over the students' bodies, hair and faces.

Initially the Boedoet students gathered in small groups
outside the schools, but later they formed a large group and
started yelling and disrupting traffic. Some of them even threw
stones at cars, breaking a few car windows.

Due to the worsening situation, police and military officers
dispersed the students and forced them to leave the area. Some of
the students were forced into passing city buses, but others
managed to run away and hide in the nearby Istiqlal Mosque.

"All teachers of the schools have been here since 6.30 a.m. We
just do not want our students to be involved in any trouble,"
said Rudolfo Purba, a teacher of STM 1. However the situation was
beyond anything the teachers expected.

"To prevent clashes after the final exam announcement, we
mailed the announcement papers to the students' houses," Herman
Hermawan, the vice headmaster of STM 5, said.

Unfortunately, the students came personally to the schools to
learn their examination results and to celebrate passing with
their friends.

"However, don't think only Boedoet students start brawls
because we also have some achievements that we are proud of. For
example, many students from STM 5 are accepted into a number of
top companies, including Astra, Unilever and Mazda," said Herman.

Most students interviewed by the Post were quite sure they
would graduate even though they were still waiting to receive the
results mailed by the schools.

"I am sure that I will graduate even though I have not got the
announcement letter yet," said Indra Nilahua, a student of STM 5.

Other schools, including SMA 6 on Jl. Mahakam, Kebayoran Baru,
in South Jakarta, however, invited the students' parents to the
school to pick up their children's results.

"We try to do this to prevent any chaos after the final exam
announcement, like what happened last year. So this year, we
invited the parents instead of the students to pick up the
results. If this is successful, we will do this every year," said
Syahrial Gazhali, deputy headmaster of SMA 6.

"However, to prevent any unexpected turn of events, the
teachers asked 12 police and military officers to guard the
school. The school also forbade the students from entering the
school," said Bachtiar Gade, one of the parents.

Each year over 420,000 students apply to the 49-state run
universities and colleges throughout the country.

Only 14.5 percent, just over 61,000 students, will be admitted
while the rest must be satisfied with ending their education or
entering more costly private institutions. (31)