Illegal guns rampant in Semarang

SEMARANG: Central Java legislative council demanded provincial police on Friday step up efforts to reduce the widespread circulation of illegal firearms in the province.

Winardi, a senior councillor from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police faction, said that the circulation of illegal guns had reached an alarming level, proven by the recent series of armed robberies that killed two police officers.

During a hearing with provincial police officials at the council building, another councillor, Trimanto, shared his experience on the rampant circulation of guns in the province.

"When I had lunch recently at a restaurant here, I was offered them by a sales promotion girl," he said.

The councillors said that the police had to stop the illegal circulation of illegal guns, because it contributed to a high crime rate in the province. -- Antara