Are personal safety devices legal?

My wife and I (both Australians) have been living in Indonesia for four years working on government infrastructure projects (railway projects for Perumka) based in Purwokerto in Central Java. During the last four years we have truly enjoyed the experience of living and working in Indonesia and most of all the hospitality and friendship from the many people we have met and worked with.

My job has dictated a move to Jakarta; we have been living in Jakarta for just over one month. At lunch time on Tuesday, while walking alone along Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, I was accosted and jostled by a group of six or seven youths who stole my mobile phone from my belt and a valuable pen from my shirt pocket. I believed that I was aware and prepared for the crime situation on the street, quite clearly I was not expecting to be robbed in broad daylight on one of Jakarta's busiest thoroughfares. Luckily I was not hurt, I only lost some valuable possessions, like many others before me had fallen victim to the much publicized street crime in Jakarta.

I fear not only for my personal safety, but most importantly for the safety of my wife and other staff members and have been thinking about what other steps can be taken to ensure safety while on the streets of Jakarta.

I hope one of The Jakarta Post's readers can advise me on the legality of carrying and using personal protection measures, for instance the tear gas sprays or tongkat stroom (stun sticks) that are available here in Jakarta. Is it legal to defend oneself with these items? Are there any special precautions that need to be exercised with regard to personal protection measures? I fear that by carrying and or using such devices I could end up in trouble with the law as well as the hoodlums and thieves.

I note from an article on page 5 of the Post on Jan. 31 that special permits are mentioned and being a requirement, is this true also for the tongkat stroom and the tear gas sprays?

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