Firearms licensing to follow stricter requirements: Hendro

JAKARTA (JP): In the aftermath of the recent shooting incident involving Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Hendropriyono, the military said they would impose tighter control of firearms and procedures for the issuance of their licenses.

"In accordance with the national armed-forces policy, the Jakarta chapter of the agency for Coordination of Supports for the National Stability (BAKORSTANASDA JAYA) will tighten the issuance of firearm-use licenses. We shall also tightly screen the would-be users," Hendro told reporters here Saturday morning after opening the 46th Manunggal ABRI civic mission in East Jakarta.

Hendro was quoted by Antara as saying that the team of Operation Cleansing, which was sponsored by the Jakarta Military Command, would intensify its inspection on firearm possession.

Hendro said he believed that there are a number of unauthorized people who posses firearms and that there was a tendency among those who legally owned firearms to use the weapons in an irresponsible manner.

"We shall intensify inspections because people are inclined to abuse them. They must know that firearms are dangerous. They can be lethal if they are in the hands of people who do not understand their real functions," said the two-star general.

The tightening of the control over the firearm use came after shots were fired by a high-ranking immigration official, named Bambang Rusmintarjo, 41, on the Jagorawi toll road.

On Wednesday night Hendro was reportedly on his way home in the Cibubur housing complex, East Jakarta, from his office in Cawang, while Bambang himself was heading to his home in Bogor.

Hendro's chauffeur reportedly flashed the car's high beam several times to let Bambang know of his intention to overtake him, but Bambang kept blocking the way.

Upset over the continued high beam signals, Bambang brandished his Colt 32 revolver outside the car's window and fired three times into the air, apparently not aware that it was a military commander's car behind him.

Tens of police officers and military members, who were contacted by Hendro's personal aide soon after the incident, captured Bambang two and a half hours later at his home in Bogor. (jsk)