Council objects to gas pistol plan<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A councillor and a public lawyer questioned on Thursday the
\nJakarta Transportation Agency's proposal to purchase additional
\ngas pistols worth a total of Rp 1.5 billion (US$166,666), saying
\nthat it could trigger more violence in the city.<\/p>\n
Speaking separately to The Jakarta Post, councillor Mukhayar
\nRM of the Justice Party and the urban division head of the
\nJakarta Legal Aid Institute Tubagus Haryo Karbyanto suggested the
\nagency ask for help from the police, instead of purchasing more
\npistols.<\/p>\n
\"We will reject the proposal if there is no clear regulation
\non the use of the guns and an explanation from the agency,\"
\nMukhayar who is a member of the City Council Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs, said.<\/p>\n
He asserted that the guns could be misused by the agency
\nofficers, saying it could trigger more clashes between the
\nofficers and residents.<\/p>\n
Tubagus suspected that the guns would be used by the agency in
\ntheir operations against street vendors who currently crowd bus
\nterminals.<\/p>\n
\"It would be better to use the fund to improve the
\ntransportation system, instead of purchasing more guns. A lot of
\nthe disorder found in the city public transportation system is
\ncaused by the agency officers, such as illegal levies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He deplored the plan to purchase the guns, saying that it was
\npart of the city administration's policy to use violence against
\nthe city's poor residents, such as street vendors, newcomers and
\npedicab drivers.<\/p>\n
During a meeting with Commission D on Tuesday, the agency head
\nRustam Effendy revealed the plan to purchase the gas pistols.<\/p>\n
\"It's also to buy bullets for the gas pistols which we already
\nhave,\" Rustam said without mentioning the number of pistols or
\nbullets to be purchased.<\/p>\n
He said earlier that his officers often face resistance from
\ndrivers and hoodlums in terminals during raids.<\/p>\n
In 2000, the Public Order Office purchased approximately 60
\nGerman-made gas pistols and pistols that fire rubber bullets for
\nRp 22 million each. The city spent at least Rp 3 billion for the
\nguns and to train the officers how to use them.<\/p>",
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