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.