More firearm permits issued to civilians<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Police have issued 175 firearm
\npermits to civilians, mostly businessmen, in the first eight
\nmonths of this year, an officer said on Monday.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M. Sianipar said
\nthis figure was more than double last year's total of 71 permits.<\/p>\n
The permits were all for the use of handguns with calibers of
\nbetween .22 millimeter and .32 millimeter, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the significant increase in the number of permits
\nissued was caused mainly by people's fear of the country's
\nfragile political and economic situation.<\/p>\n
\"Businesspeople today feel secure when they own guns ... it
\nshouldn't be that way. The National Police force and the
\nIndonesian Military are responsible for this nation's security,\"
\nTogar told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"It's a very sad situation when Indonesians themselves no
\nlonger trust the upholders of the law to safeguard this country,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
According to a police source, most of the civilians applying
\nfor and receiving the permits were Chinese-Indonesians.<\/p>\n
\"They still can't get over the 1998 May riots where the ethnic
\nChinese were the targets of angry mobs,\" the source said.<\/p>\n
Data from Togar's office showed the National Police issued a
\ntotal of 255 permits during the first eight months of this year,
\nincluding 61 to military\/police officers, 12 to government
\nofficials and seven to retired military\/police officers.<\/p>\n
The total number of permits issued last year was 262, with 101
\nof the permits being issued to military\/police officers.<\/p>\n
In all, the police have issued a total of 517 permits for the
\npersonal use and possession of firearms, including 246 to
\nbusinessmen, 162 to military\/police officers, 64 to retired
\nmilitary\/police officers and 45 to government officials.<\/p>\n
Togar said the permits were issued strictly for self-defense
\npurposes and \"nothing else\".<\/p>\n
\"Misuse of the permit could result in the revocation of the
\npermit, while the person involved will be sentenced according to
\nexisting regulations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Togar did not say where permit recipients purchased guns,
\nsince selling firearms is illegal in the country.<\/p>\n
He also said police across the country continued to be puzzled
\nby firearm smugglers.<\/p>\n
\"Their ways of smuggling have become very difficult for us to
\ntrace. But I'd like to assure the general public that once
\ncaught, the smugglers can be given a maximum jail sentence of 20
\nyears,\" Togar said. (ylt)<\/p>",
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