Transmigration for hoodlums?

Transmigration for hoodlums?

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday that hoodlums made to participate in training courses should join the government-sponsored transmigration program or return to their hometowns instead of going back to Jakarta.

"The training course will be meaningless if they remain in Jakarta because it is feared they will go back to their old habits as preman (hoodlums)," Surjadi said at City Hall.

The governor explained that life in Jakarta is hard and can easily lure hoodlums, who have joined the training courses, back to their old practices.

Therefore, it would be better if those being trained join a transmigration program or go back to their hometowns, the governor reiterated.

Many hoodlums were recently arrested in a series of raids carried out to uphold security in the city. Most of them were released, many others sent to the training courses and some faced trials for their alleged roles in crimes.

Various state agencies and private institutions sponsored the training courses on military discipline and skills for about 569 hoodlums.

The training program, scheduled to run from March 24 until April 6, include military drills to help improve discipline and intensive courses to give the detainees proper skills which might help them to make a living later on. (yns)