Public order officers to be armed with gas pistols<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a desperate attempt to maintain security in
\nthe capital, the city administration has spent Rp 1.2 billion
\n(US$126.315) to purchase 60 gas pistols to equip its public order
\nand civil defense officers.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Public Order Office Hadi Utomo said on
\nTuesday that the pistols were needed for self defense in case of
\nattacks during operations to restore order.<\/p>\n
\"Jakartans seem to be more 'brutal'. They often neglect the
\nlaw which may result in injury to our officials,\" Hadi said.<\/p>\n
Each of the German-made Melcher pistols costs Rp 20 million,
\nwhich covers training fee and license from the National Police
\nheadquarter, Hadi added.<\/p>\n
He said the city administration had used the city budget
\nallocated for routine expenditures to purchase the pistols.<\/p>\n
Given the worsening security conditions, the city
\nadministration had originally planned to buy 500 pistols, Hadi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The .9 millimeter caliber weapon, with 100 mm barrel, can
\nparalyze a person for 10 minutes due to its anesthetic effect.<\/p>\n
Hadi said operational unit commanders would have priority to
\nreceive the pistols.<\/p>\n
As part of preparatory safety measures, the city office will
\nbe strict when selecting officers entitled to carry the weapon.
\nThe testing is aimed at determining psychological and technical
\npreparedness of an officer to possess a fire arm.<\/p>\n
\"After the selection, the eligible officers will be trained
\nfor at least two weeks. Hopefully we can deploy them next month,\"
\nHadi said.<\/p>\n
Hadi said each officer would be provided with 25 live bullets,
\n10 empty bullets and 15 gas bullets during the training.<\/p>\n
According to official data, the capital has at least 3,000
\ncity public order officers, including the new recruits who
\nformerly were members of the now defunct People's Security
\n(Kamra) civilian guard.<\/p>\n
Hadi said the officers selected to carry the gas pistols would
\nnot be allowed to lend the weapons to anyone.<\/p>\n
\"We will fire any officer who is found guilty of violating the
\nrule,\" Hadi warned.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, Muta'alim of the United Development
\nParty (PPP) said the pistols were neither necessary nor urgent
\nfor the public order and civil defense officers.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the city administration coordinate with the
\ncity police in coping with security problems in the capital,
\nincluding mass rallies.<\/p>\n
\"The city public order office has the authority to handle
\nsecurity problems, but it doesn't mean that they should be armed
\nwith guns,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hadi also denied reports that police were involved in various
\noperations held to search street vendors.<\/p>\n
He also said the city administration had never consulted the
\nCity Council about the provision of funds to buy the pistols.<\/p>\n
\"There was no allocation of funds for the purchase of pistols,
\neither in the 2001 city budget or last year's budget. It must
\nhave been proposed under a different item in the city budget,\" he
\nsaid, but failed to mention from which section the funds were
\nallocated.<\/p>\n
He said that Rp 20 million was too much for a gas pistol. \"It
\ncould be used for other purposes,\" he said. (07\/04)<\/p>",
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