Police chief backs banning of armed civilian groups<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar expressed support on
\nWednesday for a policy to ban militant organizations, but said it
\nwould be difficult to carry out in the absence of a legal
\numbrella for its implementation.<\/p>\n
Da'i said civilians had no authority to possess weapons and
\nanyone doing so would face stern sanctions.<\/p>\n
\"Civilians are not allowed to possess both firearms and
\nhomemade weapons as it is against Emergency Law No. 12\/1951.
\nShould the civilians use their weapons to fight against other
\ncivilians, the police are authorized to seize them.<\/p>\n
\"But disbanding these groups is impossible, because we (the
\npolice) can only dissolve an organization if the government
\ndeclares it unlawful,\" Da'i told The Jakarta Post after attending
\na special meeting on political and security affairs in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Any person found violating emergency laws faces a maximum jail
\nterm of 20 years.<\/p>\n
The presence of armed civilians in the country has been
\ncondemned by rights activists, considering that these groups have
\nthe potential to commit human rights violations.<\/p>\n
Several groups, such as the Bogor-based Mujahiddin Youth Force
\n(AMIN), have also been accused of being involved in a series of
\nbomb attacks across the country, but only a few of its members
\nhave been punished.<\/p>\n
Many believe that these armed groups have won the support of
\nthe military and the police on the grounds that \"the civilians
\nhave to develop their own defense system against possible
\nthreats.\"<\/p>\n
The establishment of militia groups in East Timor prior to the
\nUN-sponsored 1999 ballot, as well as the Pamswakarsa and Islam
\nDefenders Front (FPI), is believed to have strong connections to
\nthe military and police.<\/p>\n
The hardline Laskar Jihad is believed to have fueled the
\nsituation in the country's conflict-torn regions, while security
\nauthorities have failed to take action against them.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu has said that there
\nwere no reasons to arm civilian groups as they would only
\ninterfere with security and order.<\/p>\n
However, rights activists have demanded that the security
\nauthorities disclose the reasons why they established these armed
\ncivilian groups and then disband them.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-chief-backs-banning-of-armed-civilian-groups-1447893297",
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