Council approves request for bomb disposal equipment<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The City Council approved on Wednesday a police request for Rp
\n9.7 billion (US$1.07 million) worth of bomb disposal equipment,
\nbut the city administration said it only had the money to provide
\na portion of the equipment.<\/p>\n
\"If it is needed, we will support the police in purchasing 15
\nsets of bomb disposal equipment,\" the council's deputy chairman,
\nM. Suwardi, said following a meeting with city police deputy
\nchief Brig. Gen. Edi Sunarno at City Hall.<\/p>\n
Suwardi said he hoped the money for the requested eight sets
\nof bomb disposal equipment could be taken from the city's
\nemergency fund, which currently stands at about Rp 400 billion.<\/p>\n
One set of bomb disposal equipment, which costs Rp 1.21
\nbillion, includes an explosives detector, a metal detector, two
\nhand-held inspection mirrors, an inspection mirror trolley, eight
\narmored body vests and two bomb blankets.<\/p>\n
Edi Sunarno said six sets of the equipment would be kept in
\nthe city's six police precincts, and two sets at the city police
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
\"If the money can be disbursed the purchase can be made in the
\nnext two weeks,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
He said the city police were badly in need of the equipment,
\nespecially in light of the Bali bombing and the numerous bomb
\nblasts in the capital over the past couple of years.<\/p>\n
The officer said the city police currently had only one set of
\nbomb disposal equipment.<\/p>\n
Under the regional autonomy laws, the city administration
\nfunds the city police and its efforts to maintain security and
\norder.<\/p>\n
The administration recently provided the police with 86 patrol
\ncars valued at a total of Rp 8.6 billion. Aside from the patrol
\ncars, the administration budgeted Rp 20 billion this year for the
\npolice's needs, including the purchase of telecommunications
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
While the police have won over the City Council, the
\nadministration will prove to be a tougher sell. City spokesman
\nMuhayat said the administration only had the funds to provide
\nthree sets of bomb disposal equipment.<\/p>\n
\"This year we budgeted Rp 20 billion (for the police). So we
\ncan only finance a maximum of three sets of equipment,\" Muhayat
\nsaid at City Hall.<\/p>\n
And he added that the purchase of the equipment could only be
\nfinanced by the 2003 City Budget as this year's budget had
\nalready been allocated for other priorities.<\/p>\n
Many observers believe the security situation in the city is
\nas bad as ever, despite the administration budgeting Rp 20
\nbillion for the police and allocating more than 40 billion for
\npublic order operations.<\/p>\n
These observers also fear that with the police dependent on
\nfunds from the city, officers will be reluctant to investigate
\nirregularities in the administration.<\/p>\n
The city police announced on Monday they will question
\nGovernor Sutiyoso next Tuesday as a witness in the alleged misuse
\nof Rp 4.5 billion meant for flood victims. The money was handled
\nby the Institute of Civic Education in Indonesia. Sutiyoso asked
\nthe non-governmental organization to manage the money, which was
\nraised in March this year. Sutiyoso has said he is prepared to be
\nquestioned.<\/p>",
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