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)