Parang, Batu, dan Rebutan Lahan: Wajah Tawuran di Manggarai | Narasi Explains

Summary

This transcript reveals the story of Herman, a former veteran of street brawls, detailing his experiences growing up in Manggarai, South Jakarta. In the 1990s, school rivalries turned violent, and Herman recalls the dangers, including close calls with weapons, that marked these conflicts. He sheds light on the complex social dynamics in Manggarai, where gang rivalries, territorial disputes, and economic issues fueled ongoing violence. Despite police efforts in 2022 to curb the violence, Herman and other locals remain skeptical. The script explores the deep-rooted causes of street violence and offers insight into how it intersects with broader societal issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Herman's involvement in school violence began in 1995, with frequent clashes between schools and neighborhoods in Manggarai, Jakarta.
• 😀 Tawuran (school fights) in Manggarai are often fueled by territorial gang rivalries and sometimes escalate due to trivial matters like teasing or parking disputes.
• 😀 Manggarai has a high population density, with nearly 30,000 residents as of 2019, contributing to social tensions and the rise of gang-related violence.
• 😀 Certain gangs, such as 'Gentas' and 'Tuyul', have been active in Manggarai since the 1990s, and are involved in various violent clashes.
• 😀 Gangs in Manggarai are not just based on neighborhood territories but can also have names rooted in their violent visions or goals, such as 'Gelorados' or 'Romusa'.
• 😀 The Manggarai area also sees competition for resources like parking spaces and land, sometimes leading to violent altercations and even fatalities.
• 😀 Tawuran often serves as a form of self-expression for young people, offering a sense of identity, power, and camaraderie within their gang.
• 😀 The violence in Manggarai also has links to illegal activities like drug trafficking, with some gangs using violence as a cover for such operations.
• 😀 Rivalries between schools are often perpetuated by alumni who continue to fuel violence even after leaving school, by recruiting younger students into the conflicts.
• 😀 Efforts by the police and local authorities to curb violence in Manggarai have met with limited success, due to resource limitations and challenges in addressing the cultural roots of gang violence.

Q & A

What was Herman's involvement in the gang conflicts in Manggarai?

Herman became involved in gang conflicts starting from 1995, initially participating in school-related brawls and later becoming entrenched in gang rivalries between neighborhoods in Manggarai, Jakarta.

What were some of the experiences Herman had during these conflicts?

Herman recalls being surrounded by a mob, attacked by a pellet gun in the eye, and witnessing various violent incidents during these gang wars.

How did Herman's upbringing influence his understanding of the conflicts in Manggarai?

Growing up in Manggarai, Herman became deeply familiar with the area's social issues, including gang violence, and gained insight into the underlying causes of these conflicts due to the area's dense population and socio-economic challenges.

What role did the underpass in Manggarai play in the gang conflicts?

The underpass in Manggarai was a key location for gang confrontations, often serving as a battleground where rival groups clashed, especially in the evenings.

Can you describe the types of gangs that were involved in the Manggarai conflicts?

Several gangs were involved, including 'Gentas' (an abbreviation for 'Gembel Stasiun'), which had existed since 1997, 'Tuyul,' and other local groups like 'Magasen' and 'Gelorados,' with names often reflecting either localities or violent identities.

What were the reasons behind the violence in Manggarai?

The violence in Manggarai stemmed from multiple factors, including territorial disputes, such as parking lot fights, inter-neighborhood rivalries, and the desire for identity and power among youth, as well as potential illegal activities like drug distribution.

How did school rivalries contribute to the gang violence?

School rivalries were intensified by perceptions of other schools as enemies, and older alumni or local gang leaders often encouraged younger students to continue the violence, sometimes even using it to recruit members.

How did Manggarai's population density and urban development influence the conflicts?

The dense population and rapid urban development in Manggarai contributed to social issues, such as limited space and poor social interaction, which in turn heightened tensions and provided a breeding ground for gang violence.

What efforts have been made to address the violence in Manggarai?

In October 2022, the police formed a special team to address the violence in Manggarai, claiming significant improvements. However, there remains skepticism about whether these efforts have fully resolved the issue.

What is Herman's perspective on solving the gang violence in Manggarai?

Herman believes that resolving the gang violence in Manggarai is not as simple as it might seem. He acknowledges the deep-rooted cultural and socio-economic factors contributing to the violence and feels that more comprehensive efforts involving education and social support are necessary.