Former troops gun roundup begins today

Former troops gun roundup begins today

JAKARTA (JP): Many retired Armed Forces members living in
Jakarta and its surrounding areas are scheduled to voluntarily
turn in their guns to the Jakarta garrison today.

Jakarta Military Commander May. Gen. Sutiyoso said last week
that he expected a large number of guns to be returned during the
special ceremony. The ceremony will be held at the Jakarta
garrison on Jl. Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta.

The military command has so far received 20 guns of various
types from retired Armed Forces members, he said.

He said that the military command has given retired members a
deadline to relinquish their guns, being, by the end of this
month.

"If they don't relinquish their guns, they will get
administrative punishment," he said, without going into details.

Sutiyoso said the military command will raid the city's
retired Armed Forces members housing complexes in an effort to
collect as many unlicensed guns as possible.

He acknowledged that the "gun operation" was prompted by an
armed robbery in the city last month.

On May 12, three masked men robbed the Hero supermarket in
Kali Malang, East Jakarta, making off with Rp 260,000 (US$111.82)
in cash after they randomly fired shots from automatic rifles,
believed to be an FN and AK 47.

Three men were wounded in the robbery. Several shop windows
and three cars were also damaged by the bullets.

A report said that the police apprehended two men, identified
as Imron and Hardi, at a retired servicemen's housing complex in
Kali Malang. The two men are relatives of retired Armed Forces
members, reports said. (jun)