East Java police transform 686 martial arts monuments into Pancasila monuments

During his tenure as the Director of Intelligence and Security for the East Java Regional Police, Inspector General Dekananto Eko Purwono led an initiative to transform 686 martial arts school monuments into Pancasila monuments.

This strategic move aimed to reduce horizontal conflict and social friction between different martial arts groups. Authorities identified that monuments located on public facilities or state land often served as symbols of exclusive territorial claims, which could trigger tensions among members of various organizations.

Rather than using repressive measures, the program utilized a persuasive approach involving coordination with local governments, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI), and representatives from the martial arts organizations themselves. The initiative encouraged groups to dismantle or repurpose the monuments independently, reinforcing the concept that public spaces belong to all citizens.