Banpol officers to carry weapons

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso on Wednesday inaugurated 1,923 police assistants, or Banpol, noting that some would be equipped with tear-gas pistols.

"They are equipped with weapons to defend themselves against being mobbed," Sutiyoso said after inspecting the Banpol officers at the National Monument Park.

"Ensuring their protection against mobs will also maintain their morale, so they will continue to serve in the force."

Sutiyoso stressed that the head of the public order office was required to ensure Banpol were well trained.

The city administration has spent Rp 1.2 billion (US$120,000) to buy 60 tear-gas pistols for the force.

The Rp 20 million spent on each German-made Melcher pistol included the purchase price, training and a license fee from National Police headquarters.

Each of the blue-uniformed Banpol officers will be equipped with handcuffs, a flashlight, a knife and a rubber club.

Sutiyoso acknowledged that the administration had initially sought to appoint 3,000 Banpol officers.

But he said many candidates, taken from former members of the People's Security (Kamra) militia, did not pass the strict selection process.

"In the future we might also hire female Banpol officers to deal with those operations concerning women," he said.

Banpol sign a one-year contract with the city administration, with a salary of Rp 350,000 a month and a transportation allowance of Rp 150,000 a month.

Seventy-three Banpol officers will be stationed at City Hall and 364 will be deployed at the Central Jakarta mayoralty.

Some 345 officers will be assigned to the North Jakarta mayoralty, 347 in West Jakarta, 404 in South Jakarta and the remaining 390 in East Jakarta. (jun)