'Jakarta os now a dangerous place'<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said recently that his
\nofficers would intensify their checks on the ownership of
\nfirearms among civilians in a bid to curb armed crime and
\ncontract killings. On the other hand, city residents complained
\nto The Jakarta Post that rogue military and police officers were
\nheavily involved in the illicit gun trade. Here is what some
\nresidents had to say.<\/p>\n
Johnson Panjaitan, 36, is a lawyer with the Indonesian Legal
\nAid and Human Rights Association in Cikini, Central Jakarta. He
\nresides in Tangerang with his wife and son:<\/p>\n
The whole issue of firearms is now out of control. The same
\napplies to drug trafficking and gambling throughout the city.<\/p>\n
Guns can be obtained on the black market from neighboring
\ncountries or even from Pindad (the state weapons manufacturer)
\nfor both political and criminal reasons. I believe that the
\nnumber of people buying firearms in Indonesia is increasing.<\/p>\n
I'm convinced there are plenty of hit men who can be hired to
\ncommit murders. I remember when I escaped being murdered two
\nyears ago when I was dealing with the Theys case. The shooters
\ngot the wrong car that time. These guys are like the Mafia.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is now a very dangerous place. I worry all the time
\nabout the gun problem.<\/p>\n
I would suggest that gun ownership be banned and no more gun
\nlicenses be issued as I am opposed to violence.<\/p>\n
I'm afraid that legal ownership will enable gun owners to
\njustify their actions, irrespective of whether they are right or
\nwrong. Violence should not be countered by violence in most
\ncases.<\/p>\n
Yongki, not his real name, 48, is a top manager with a company
\nin Roxy, West Jakarta. He lives in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta,
\nwith his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
I just think having a gun in my possession would have more
\nnegative consequences than positive ones. My friend offered to
\nsell me a gun but I said no.<\/p>\n
We don't need to get our own back using violence as there are
\nmany other ways of resolving problems.<\/p>\n
Committing violence only reflects our simple-mindedness and
\nstupidity. I'm sure most of us would regret it later.<\/p>\n
I presume that military and police officers are behind the
\nflourishing gun trade. It is these sort of well-trained and
\nexperienced guys who know how to use firearms.<\/p>\n
It's obviously a lie if senior security officers deny the
\nexistence of hit men. It is the commander's responsibility to
\ncontrol his subordinates.<\/p>\n
I'm sure there are gangs of such assassins. But they would
\nprobably claim they are only bodyguards available for hire.<\/p>\n
David, not his real name, 25, is a street artist in South
\nJakarta. He lives in Joglo, West Jakarta, with his wife and son:<\/p>\n
Actually, civilians should be allowed to have guns for
\nsecurity reasons. Naturally, legal ownership would probably
\nreduce the misuse of firearms.<\/p>\n
We can all see how most Western countries allow their citizens
\nto have firearms. And they mostly comply with the law.<\/p>\n
Mind you, since most of our people here seem incapable of
\ncontrolling themselves, perhaps there could be some problems if
\nthey got their hands on guns.<\/p>\n
I think police and military officers are up to their necks in
\nthe firearms trade nowadays.<\/p>\n
Probably, some errant, underpaid officers are trying to earn
\nextra money by getting involved in criminal activities.<\/p>\n
I also believe that there are many gangs of contract killers
\nwilling to do the dirty work for others, and that senior security
\nofficers are aware of this.<\/p>\n
If they deny the existence of these hit men, then they are
\nclearly just trying to save their reputations.<\/p>\n
I have a friend, a military officer, who works as a bodyguard
\nfor rich people. I think he would do anything his boss tells him
\nto do just to get him out of a tight spot.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-os-now-a-dangerous-place-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }