Tough measures taken against armed teens
Tough measures taken against armed teens
JAKARTA (JP): Ciracas, East Jakarta, police and military
warned yesterday that they would take harsh measures against
teenagers who were found carrying sharp weapons, illegal drugs,
or committing vandalism.
"Educating them is no longer effective means of bringing down
the rate of student brawls or violent crimes here. We have no
choice but to impose harsh laws," head of the Ciracas police sub-
precinct, Maj. Tisna Yoga, told reporters at his office here
yesterday.
He said that statistics showed that many students who were
committing violent crimes or vandalism had sharp weapons in their
possession.
"Vandalism is not an easy matter. But it's about other
people's lives and it's a crime," he said.
He added that the local police, along with military personnel,
would arrest students caught carrying weapons or drugs and then
send them to the court immediately for trial.
"We pledge that there will be no compromises or excuses for
the students found carrying sharp weapons," Yoga insisted. "We'll
arrest them even if they claim that they need the weapons only
for self protection," he added.
"We hope that after being detained in jail, they can learn a
lesson from the experience."
He could give no data on the number of students arrested thus
far for carrying sharp weapons.
According to Emergency Law Number 12 issued in 1951, a person
who was found guilty of carrying weapons illegally could be
sentenced to imprisonment up to 10 years, while those carrying
guns, explosives or ammunition could be sentenced to death or
life imprisonment.
Narcotics Law # 9, issued in 1976, stipulates that those who
were found guilty of carrying drugs face a maximum imprisonment
of 10 years and a maximum fine of Rp 15 million (US$6,980).
According to First Lt. Gusde Wardana, head of the Ciracas
police investigation unit, the latest student brawl in the area
left one dead. The brawl took place early this month.
A 20-year old suspect, identified as Nuhadi alias Gobang, is a
second-year student of SMA Pangudi Rahayu high school. He is
believed to have stabbed the 18-year old Cahya Wahono, a third
year student of SMA Negeri I Cibinong, West Java, in the thigh
with a sickle.
Cahya was on board a bus passing Gobang's school after he had
finished an examination at the nearby Cijantung area when Gobang
attacked him.
Cahya bled to death minutes later.
"The murder is deplorable because Gobang mistakenly thought
Cahya to be a student of the school which had previously attacked
Gobang's schoolmates," Gusde said.
The Ciracas police are preparing the dossiers of the case to
be handed over to the prosecutor's office. (bsr)