Participants said the need for an anti-thuggery movement is urgent because the government is not doing enough to crack down on lawlessness in the city. "The government apparently supports the existence of thugs as it actually has a symbiotic relationship with them," Uli Parulian Sihombing of LBH Jakarta told The Jakarta Post.

The group accused the government of being involved in protecting and supporting criminals for political purposes. Thugs are allegedly deployed by the city administration to intimidate victims of eviction. LBH Jakarta recorded that members of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and the Betawi Communication Forum (Forkabi) were involved in at least eight eviction cases in the city last year, while other attacks involved the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). Acts of lawlessness have targeted victims from all levels of society. "But the biggest victims of thuggery are the poor," Benny said.

Uli said the authorities should have no difficulty dealing with these criminals since the Criminal Code addresses their activities. "They don't have to disband the organizations. They just have to impose hard sanctions on them," he said. "If disbandment is needed, then the authorities could use the 2001 law on foundation to investigate the groups and let the courts decide whether or not they are against the law.”

Ratna said in order to eradicate thuggery, the police have to be committed to enforcing the law. "We can't fight thugs with a poem. We need strict actions from the authorities."