APSN | Rival Bali gangs attend training

Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia

Rival Bali gangs attend training

Jakarta Post - July 26, 2016

Bali governor welcomes gangs in state defense program – Jakarta Post. June 15, 2016
Minister denies armed military training for gangsters – Jakarta Post. June 14, 2016
FPI threatens to impeach Jokowi over 1965 apology – Jakarta Post. June 1, 2016
FPI Islamic vigilantes search boarding houses in Bandung for LGBT people– Tempo. January 27, 2016
Jakarta police slammed for standing idle amid hard-liner raid – Jakarta Globe. December 30, 2015

Denpasar – Despite mounting demands from Bali residents for the disbandment of mass organizations as a result of their involvement in acts of violence, the police are training them to help safeguard the island.

The training is being held for 35 members of the island's three biggest rival gangs, namely Laskar Bali, Baladika Bali and Pemuda Bali Bersatu. Taking place at Denpasar Police headquarters, the four-day training officially started on Monday morning with classroom theory sessions.

The training will continue with practical exercises on the police station field. "We give them 50 percent theory and 50 percent practical," Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Hadi Purnomo said.

Hadi Purnomo said during the training the gang members would learn techniques and strategy on how to safeguard their areas, including welcoming people. "How to make guests [tourists] happy, not make them afraid? Always smile," Hadi Purnomo said.

The gang members will also receive martial arts training. Hadi Purnomo said they needed such training as many clashes between the gangs had caused fatalities.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/07/26/island-focus-rival-bali-gangs-attend-training.html.