ABRI tightens controls on weapon ownership

ABRI tightens controls on weapon ownership

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is tightening its
controls on the possession of weapons by both active and retired
military personnel in order to curb their abuse.

ABRI Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung yesterday instructed the
Army, Navy, Air Force and Police to make inventories of guns and
other weapons which are used or are still in the possession of
active and retired personnel, Antara reported.

"I'm issuing this instruction in order to prevent the misuse
of weapons, and so that they won't fall into the hands of
unauthorized people," he said.

Feisal also ordered ABRI to seize weapons in the possession of
unauthorized people, when speaking with a number of navy officers
in the headquarters of the Tanjung Priok Naval Base yesterday.

The general made the instruction in a meeting during which he
heard reports from Chief of Western Fleet Rear Admiral Achmad
Sutjipto about a recent operation launched by the western fleet.
Feisal was accompanied by ABRI chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen.
Soeyono and a number of other high ranking military officers.

Feisal also disclosed that there have often been "violations
of procedure" in the issuance of guns from the forces to their
personnel, especially when people moved from one unit to another.

"There are many officers who already had guns, and got new
ones when they moved to other units," he said. "If that system
remains their houses would soon turn into arms warehouses."

He cited a number of possible misuses. "What if the guns fall
into the hands of those officers' children?" he said.

Last month, in the wake of an armed robbery, the Jakarta
military conducted a drive to persuade retired ABRI officers
living in the city and its surrounding areas to voluntarily turn
in their guns to the Jakarta garrison.

"If they refuse to relinquish their guns, they would get
administrative punishments," Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen.
Sutiyoso had said earlier.

By the end of June, the military command had retrieved 426
guns of various makes, from revolvers to FN and AK assault
rifles, which were voluntarily handed in by retired Army, Navy,
Air Force and Police personnel. (swe)