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Makassar mayor seeks public help in fight against motorcycle gang
Makassar Mayor Ilham Arief Sirajuddin asked the public on Wednesday to make a contribution to the fight against a notorious motorcycle gang that has frequently sparked violent incidents in the city
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akassar Mayor Ilham Arief Sirajuddin asked the public on Wednesday to make a contribution to the fight against a notorious motorcycle gang that has frequently sparked violent incidents in the city.
'Over the last two years the authorities have made communicative and preventive efforts in the search for a solution by discovering their interests and talents. But our efforts have been in vain as a result of a series of violent acts they carried out recently,' said Ilham as quoted by Antara news agency, in Makassar.
The South Sulawesi Police have also adopted measures, including violence mapping, and have coordinated with the local Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and Kodam (Military Command) VII/Wirabuana to deploy dozens of personnel at flashpoint areas, to narrow motorcycle-gang territory.
The mayor said that the violence carried out by the motorcycle gang members was not a trivial issue as they had started to attack and beat innocent people including motorists and damage houses, mini markets, hospitals and other public facilities.
Adolescent gang members traveling in convoys had equipped themselves with various weapons, ranging from slingshots and knives to Molotov cocktails, Ilham said.
'It has become alarming, many lives have been taken by the motorcycle gang. Several residents have also been injured by their irresponsible acts. We have to strictly deal with them to bring back peace to our society,' Ilham said.
Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Burhanuddin Andi admitted that the motorcycle gang had become a public menace. 'But, the teenagers involved in violence need to be given a second chance.'
Burhanuddin has ordered his subordinates to act firmly against the motorcycle gang and also conduct routine operations to anticipate and reduce crime levels on the streets. (yln)
