Thirty brawling students rounded up

JAKARTA (JP): Police rounded up about 30 students involved in a street brawl on Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, Saturday.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told The Jakarta Post the students were from several high schools in Central Jakarta with a history of hostilities.

He identified the schools as STM PGRI 11, SMA Budi Oetomo, SMA 1 and STM 11.

"One of the students was hurt in the forehead," he said.

Police confiscated a machete, three metal-studded belts and three metal rulers from the students.

The fight erupted at about 1:30 p.m. when a gang of students stoned a crowded PPD bus on the Kampung Rambutan - Pasar Baru route when they suspected students from rival schools were aboard.

"The panicky passengers screamed for help. The driver pulled the bus over and people jumped out and ran to avoid the brawl," he said.

Police have registered 17 student brawls in Central Jakarta in the past three weeks.

"We sincerely hope that parents, teachers and students do something to stop street brawls," Iman added. "Schools should pay more attention to the problem, too."

Last week the police arrested about 350 students in separate incidents. They were suspected of gathering for a massive brawl in Cawang, East Jakarta, and Jl. Kramat Raya.

In another incident, 82 students of STM PGRI 8 technical high school hijacked a military truck at Jl. Achmad Yani near their campus in Cawang area, East Jakarta.

Elsewhere, 268 students from several high schools in Central Jakarta were caught by the police after hijacking a PPD bus plying the Pasar Baru - Kampung Rambutan route near Pasar Baru bus shelter, Central Jakarta. (edt)