Arientha Primanita – Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said on Tuesday that police actions to re-educate punks did not violate human rights and instead showed government concern towards the punks.

Irwandi said there are 700 punks in Aceh, most of whom are living in parks and on the side of roads. He claimed they do not have jobs, do not go to school, do not pray and refuse to go home.

"Though it is their right, the government needs to think of their future," Irwandi said on Tuesday at the president palace. "While they are doing punk in their youth, if they don't work, what will they be?"

Sixty-four young people are being held by the Aceh police for being "punk," but have not been charged with a crime and have not been brought before a court. Police are holding the youths at the Aceh State Police camp for "re-education."

Male punks had their heads shaved, while female punks had their hair cut short in the fashion of a female police officer.

Irwandi said this type of re-education by police was the best for punks. After re-education, he said they might be given work according to their capabilities, such as being a security officer, or they may be given a scholarship to continue their studies.

While Banda Aceh Deputy Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal said the reason behind the re-education was because punk does not follow Islamic teachings, Irwandi said the re-education had nothing to do with Aceh's Shariah Law.

"They were treated that way not because they violated the dress code," Irwandi said. "Islam does not ban people from having punk style. People tend to relate it to Aceh Islamic Shariah, while it actually has nothing to do with it."

The punk arrests and re-education have garnered world criticism. In Moscow, a group claiming to be anarcho-punks painted the Indonesian embassy wall writing "Punk is Not A Crime."

"What does it have to do with international affairs? It did not breach human rights. Don't let foreign values make us slaves," Irwandi said.