"I have talked with Governor Jokowi about efforts to revitalize the Bulungan youth centre to prevent a recurrence of brawls between students of state senior high school (SMAN) 6 and SMAN 70 in Jakarta," the minister said here during a meeting of youths from Indonesia, Timor Leste and Brunei Darussalam on Sunday.
He made the statement on the occasion of the commemoration of the 84th Youth Pledge Day.
In general, student brawls involved the same groups and occurred in the same places, he said referring to student brawls in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar.
Therefore, he added that student brawls posed a challenge in the commemoration of the Youth Pledge Day.
Andi said when the Youth Pledge was for the first time uttered on October 28, 1928 youths from different groups such as Jakarta and Ambon youths attended the function.
The challenges faced by youths are different all the time, he said.
He said ASEAN member states have committed themselves to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015.
"Therefore, Indonesian youths must be able to become a host in their country," he said.
"The real challenge is how to deal with certain quarters who are trying to tear the country apart through radicalism and extremism," he said.
Andi expressed hope that Indonesian youths could maintain the national unity to face greater challenges that may lie ahead.
(J010/S012)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
