BY ALL accounts, 15-year-old Alawy Yusianto Putra was a shy and reserved schoolboy who hated brawls and had a passion for music. But he was also a student at Jakarta’s SMAN 6 school in the Bulungan area, and that was enough for his murderers.

Alawy was stabbed to death on Sept 24, when he and 14 of his friends were attacked by students from a rival school.

Student brawls have become increasingly common in Indonesia in recent years. According to Komnas Anak, the national commission on children’s rights, there were 339 such incidents across Indonesia in 2011, up from just 128 in 2010. Last year, 82 students died.

Last month’s clash, however, was different. The two schools involved – SMAN 6 and SMAN 70, both upper secondary government schools located in the Bulungan area of Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta – were regarded as among the best in the city.

Students at both educational institutions are known for their academic achievements. The schools also have a variety of extracurricular activities. Senior government officials, businessmen and local celebrities send their children there. Admittedly, both schools have a history of brawling, but last month’s incident was the first time it had turned deadly.

The pressure was therefore on the authorities to do something. At a press conference on Sept 25, Education and Culture Minister Mohammad Nuh insisted that Alawy would be the last victim of student brawls throughout the country, and that the government would take all necessary measures to prevent further clashes.

The day after the press conference, however, another deadly brawl took place between two other South Jakarta schools.

This time, the victim was 17-year-old Deni Januar of vocational school Yayasan Karya 66. The brawl was apparently sparked by a retaliation attack involving students of rival school Kartika Zeni, who were upset at the death of one of their number during a separate fight last year.

Police have since arrested young suspects in the murder of both Alawy and Deni.

Mr Nuh said the ministry plans to form a team of ministry representatives, school principals and committees, the police, public figures and sociologists to consider the issues involved.

But he also seems to think the schools should solve the problem. “Principals and (local) committees know the students best and have the responsibility to educate them to steer clear of these fights,” Mr Nuh told the media.

But the schools have already made strenuous efforts to break down the traditional enmity. In the case of SMAN 6 and SMAN 70, these have reportedly included joint marching practices, science practicals, band practices and joint fast-breaking events during the fasting month.

The real problem is that Indonesia has a culture of mob violence, and no one in authority seems willing to do anything about it.

Mob attacks on the places of worship of minority religious groups often receive considerable publicity in the international media. But they are just one example of what is in reality a much wider phenomenon.

Soccer brawls, for example, can be expected every time Jakarta football club Persija hosts the Surabaya-based Persebaya or the Bandung-based Persib. Both clubs are known as Persija’s fierce rivals.

Meanwhile, street battles between rival gangs in Greater Jakarta have become almost common. Most such clashes are basically turf wars, usually involving protection rackets or control of the collection of illegal parking fees in particular areas.

Local gangs even attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Last month, police were obliged to provide heavy security at the Central Jakarta Court when John Kei went on trial for helping to orchestrate the murder of businessman Tan Harry Tantono and members of the Hercules gang.

One reason often cited for the gang problem is the dearth of job opportunities for young men, despite the robust growth the city has enjoyed in recent years.

Yet another is the willingness of local businesses to hire known gang members as security guards and debt collectors. Finally, there is the apparent reluctance of the authorities to ban organisations known for their violent activities, particularly those that claim to have ethnic, cultural or religious affiliations.

Little wonder that many high school students see gang violence as a legitimate means of settling their differences.

Indeed, SMAN 6 and SMAN 70 alumni note that the brawls have become more violent in recent years. One former SMAN 70 student told The Jakarta Post that battles in the 1990s rarely involved the use of weapons.
The National Child Protection Commission has suggested that the two schools be merged to end the constant student brawls.

Such a strategy may help resolve that particular case, but it will also leave the more general problem of student brawls untouched. It will not address the wider issue of mob violence either. Such matters await more determined official action.

Despite high-minded official promises, the brawls are unlikely to end for some time.

(C) Singapore Press Holdings Limited