Indonesia could expand programme sending troublesome students to military barracks, says minister
JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesian teenage students who skip class or play too many video games could land themselves in military bootcamp if a disciplinary pilot project rolled out in one province this month proves successful, a government minister told AFP on Friday.
More than 270 teenage students in West Java deemed troublesome have been shipped to military barracks under a scheme launched this month by the governor, local media reported.
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai praised the project, and has thrown his support behind rolling out the programme nationwide.
He reiterated his support for expanding the programme across the country to AFP on Friday.
"If it is successful from a human rights perspective ... meaning education is taking place properly and correctly as well as good improvements in mental capacity, competence, discipline and responsibility, then it can be done nationwide," he said.
The programme aimed to encourage a lifestyle change for students in the province, said governor Dedi Mulyadi on Thursday after observing that many stay up late playing video games, skip school or have been involved in altercations.
He explained that the military's involvement in the programme was because of its experience in building character, adding that the students were still receiving their education while staying at the barracks.
The programme will be rolled out across the province in stages and only admit students if their parents approve, Dedi added.
"We will not admit children without parental consent," he told reporters on Thursday.
Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of rights group Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), said the West Java government's programme was a "wrong policy" as the military education and training units were not a place to educate students.
"The purpose of putting students to military education and training units is to give punishment. This is clearly wrong because it is not based on the criminal law process for children," Andrie told AFP.
"We doubt that this programme can be run effectively."
He also said the programme was a form of "invasion of 'militarism'" in the civilian realm, particularly for students. n- AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
22 minutes ago
- The Star
Thailand and Cambodia trade allegations of truce breaking
Royal Thai Army soldiers sit in the back of an army vehicle in the Thai border province of Surin. - AFP BANGKOK: Thailand and Cambodia exchanged allegations on Wednesday (July 31) of breaching a ceasefire deal which has largely halted the open combat that engulfed their frontier. The nations agreed a truce starting Tuesday after five days of clashes killed at least 43 people on both sides, as a long-standing dispute over contested border temples boiled over into fighting on their 800-kilometre boundary. Khuon Sudary, president of the National Assembly of Cambodia, urged other countries to help ensure the ceasefire is upheld. "To prevent the breach of the ceasefire, it is urgent to deploy international observers and inspection teams. Please hold accountable those who violate the ceasefire," she said at the sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva. Thailand's foreign ministry said its troops in Sisaket province "came under attack by small arms fire and grenade assaults launched by Cambodian forces" in an offensive that continued until Wednesday morning. "This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," said a foreign ministry statement. Thai government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also reported overnight clashes but said "the Thai side maintained control of the situation" and conditions along the border were "reported to be normal" from 8:00 am (0100 GMT). On Wednesday, a Cambodian defence ministry official accused Thailand of twice breaching the ceasefire, intended to end fighting which has seen the two countries evacuate a total of more than 300,000 people from the border region. UN rights chief Volker Turk urged the neighbouring nations to implement their ceasefire deal in full and take rapid steps to build confidence and peace. "This crucial agreement must be fully respected, in good faith, by both sides, as diplomatic efforts continue, in a bid to resolve the root causes of the conflict," Turk said. At a temple in Thailand's Surin city serving as a shelter and field kitchen 50 kilometres away from the frontier, volunteer Thanin Kittiworranun said evacuees remain in limbo. "We don't believe Cambodia will hold the ceasefire," the 65-year-old told AFP. But an AFP journalist on the Cambodian side who heard a steady drumbeat of artillery fire since fighting began on Thursday reported hearing no blasts between the start of the truce and Wednesday morning. Beijing said deputy foreign minister Sun Weidong hosted a meeting with Thai and Cambodian officials in Shanghai, where both "reaffirmed to China their commitment to abide by the ceasefire consensus". The armistice got off to a shaky start in the early hours of Tuesday, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of continuing attacks in "a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust" - before peace generally prevailed. Meetings between rival commanders along the border - scheduled as part of the pact - went ahead, with Thailand's army saying de-escalation steps were agreed including "a halt on troop reinforcements or movements that could lead to misunderstandings". But later in the day a foreign affairs spokeswoman for Bangkok's border crisis centre, Maratee Nalita Andamo, warned the situation - in the early days of the truce - remained "fragile". Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 15 Thai troops and 15 Thai civilians, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The flare-up has surpassed the death toll of 28 in violence that raged sporadically from 2008 to 2011 over the territory, claimed by both nations because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. The peace pact was sealed in Malaysia after intervention from US President Donald Trump - whom both Thailand and Cambodia are courting for a trade deal to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs. - AFP
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Trump slaps 15pct tariff on South Korean imports
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States will impose a 15 per cent tariff on imports from South Korea, as he touted a "full and complete trade deal" between both countries. "South Korea will give to the United States US$350 Billion Dollars for Investments," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding that the country would buy US$100 billion in liquefied natural gas or other energy products. The 15 percent rate is below a 25 per cent rate that Trump had threatened earlier, and was equivalent to levies determined from US trade deals with Japan and the European Union. Trump added that an additional unspecified "large sum of money" will be invested by Seoul. "This sum will be announced within the next two weeks when the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, comes to the White House for a Bilateral Meeting," Trump said, offering congratulations to his South Korean counterpart for his "electoral success." The meeting will be their first since Lee assumed the presidency in June. In a statement posted to Facebook, Lee called the deal "the first major trade challenge" since his administration took power, adding: "We have overcome a major hurdle." "Through this deal, the government has eliminated uncertainty surrounding export conditions and ensured that US tariffs on our exports are either lower than or equal to those imposed on our major trade competitors," Lee said. Lee was elected in a snap vote last month following the impeachment of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his disastrous martial law declaration in December. Now at the helm of Asia's fourth-largest economy, which is heavily reliant on exports, the trade deal marks an early victory for Lee's tenure. "This agreement represents the convergence of US interests in revitalising its manufacturing sector and our determination to strengthen Korean companies' competitiveness in the American market," Lee's statement continued. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a sweeping 10 per cent tariff on allies and competitors alike – with rates set to increase for dozens of economies on August 1 – alongside steeper levels on steel, aluminum and autos. In contrast with the 15 per cent tariff for South Korea, Trump on Wednesday also placed 25 per cent tariffs on imports from India and 50 per cent on those from Brazil. The latter rate was determined in part as retaliation for what Trump has called a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president who is currently undergoing a criminal trial.--AFP
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
Canada to recognise Palestinian state at UNGA 2025, cites Gaza suffering
Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa after chairing a virtual Cabinet meeting, Carney said the move comes amid the "intolerable" humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. 31 Jul 2025 08:42am Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand listens to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speak during a press conference after a Cabinet meeting to discuss both trade negotiations with the US and the situation in the Middle East, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Dave CHAN / AFP) HAMILTON - Canada will recognise Palestine as a state at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday. Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa after chairing a virtual Cabinet meeting, Carney said the move comes amid the "intolerable" humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves after speaking during a press conference after a Cabinet meeting to discuss both trade negotiations with the US and the situation in the Middle East, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2025. Canada "intends" to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney said July 30, a dramatic policy shift he said was necessary to preserve hopes of a two-state solution. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) "Canada intends to recognise the state of Palestine at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025," he said, according to Anadolu Ajansi (AA). Carney reiterated Canada's long-standing support for a two-state solution -- an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security. He said Canada's recognition is tied to the Palestinian Authority's commitment to "much-needed reform,' and pledged stronger support for democratic governance in Palestine. "Canada will increase its efforts in supporting strong democratic governance in Palestine and the contributions of its people to a more peaceful and hopeful future," he said. He noted that "any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state.' Carney also described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "intolerable and rapidly deteriorating,' and criticised Israel for allowing the situation to worsen. "Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has let the situation deteriorate in Gaza," he added. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU More Like This
