Crime worries in Batam

Crime worries in Batam

BATAM, Riau: The number of Indonesian businesspeople of
Chinese descent owning firearms is reportedly on the rise in
Batam island,Antara reported.

Chairman of the Batam chapter of the Chinese Brotherhood,
Suhendro Gautama, said here on Wednesday there were increasing
reports of Chinese businesspeople being the target of various
crimes.

However, he stressed that the targeting of Chinese
businesspeople was not racially motivated.

"As I see it, there is no ethnic factor in the crimes. It is
purely money-motivated".

To reduce the incidence of the crime against Chinese
businesspeople, he advised his colleagues to assimilate better in
society, for instance, by working together to strengthen the
neighborhood security watch.

Meanwhile Antara quoted sources as saying that illegal
firearms can be easily smuggled into Batam and were sold for Rp 7
million each.