Fear, prevalence of firearms 'fuel armed robberies'
Fear, prevalence of firearms 'fuel armed robberies'
JAKARTA (JP): The rising incidence of armed robbery in the
capital is due in part to anxiety about the General Session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November, National
Police sources said on Saturday.
"Whenever there is an upcoming event which will greatly affect
the nation or any negative event that people foresee, like the
May and November riots last year, the public starts to withdraw
their money and hoard it out of fear," the sources said.
"It is in these times that armed robbery is on the rise. When
the events actually occur, the number of armed robberies will
decline, and street crime, mainly thefts, will rise."
The sources said the National Police were also intensifying
their checks and supervision of firearm permits issued to members
of the public.
"We are coordinating with the municipal branch of the Agency
for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National
Stability and the Indonesian Military Intelligence Agency," the
sources said.
"Firearms for civilians include 22-caliber to 32-caliber
handguns."
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M. Sianipar said on
Friday that the police were doing their best to control the
issuance of firearm permits for civilians.
"Still, things have gotten a little out of hand..." Togar
told The Jakarta Post.
National Police data show that 249 firearms and ammunition
permits were issued for civilians in 1998, compared to 161 in
1997.
"The same (trend) goes for the smuggling of firearms into the
country and their marketability here," Togar said.
Law. No. 12/1951 on firearms stipulates that a person or party
lacking a permit who imports, exports, produces, accepts,
obtains, furnishes, attempts to provide, possesses or carries a
firearm, ammunition or explosive could face the death penalty or
a maximum jail term of 20 years.
Togar said "strict action" would be taken against companies
who violated the law.
National Police data from 1998 stipulated the following
companies were permitted to import firearms for civilians:
explosive warehousing and transportation company PT Arminda
Prima, sand-blasting and explosives company PT Empat Enam,
explosives company PT Anur (nonactive), explosives company PT
Trias Garda Yama and telecommunications company PT Elektrindo
Nusantara.
The following include companies which import gas-operated
firearms and electric shock devices for the military: Tri Yudha
military foundation for Walther (gas firearms); PT Budiman Maju
Tengah for Tegisgod and Fegarmy (gas firearms); PT Nurbaya
Piranti Tekhnika, for Rohm and Weich, Rovch and Little Joe (gas
firearms); PT Indophone for Titan electric shock equipment and PT
Inkoppol for electric shock devices. (ylt)