'Jakarta os now a dangerous place'

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said recently that his officers would intensify their checks on the ownership of firearms among civilians in a bid to curb armed crime and contract killings. On the other hand, city residents complained to The Jakarta Post that rogue military and police officers were heavily involved in the illicit gun trade. Here is what some residents had to say.

Johnson Panjaitan, 36, is a lawyer with the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association in Cikini, Central Jakarta. He resides in Tangerang with his wife and son:

The whole issue of firearms is now out of control. The same applies to drug trafficking and gambling throughout the city.

Guns can be obtained on the black market from neighboring countries or even from Pindad (the state weapons manufacturer) for both political and criminal reasons. I believe that the number of people buying firearms in Indonesia is increasing.

I'm convinced there are plenty of hit men who can be hired to commit murders. I remember when I escaped being murdered two years ago when I was dealing with the Theys case. The shooters got the wrong car that time. These guys are like the Mafia.

Jakarta is now a very dangerous place. I worry all the time about the gun problem.

I would suggest that gun ownership be banned and no more gun licenses be issued as I am opposed to violence.

I'm afraid that legal ownership will enable gun owners to justify their actions, irrespective of whether they are right or wrong. Violence should not be countered by violence in most cases.

Yongki, not his real name, 48, is a top manager with a company in Roxy, West Jakarta. He lives in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

I just think having a gun in my possession would have more negative consequences than positive ones. My friend offered to sell me a gun but I said no.

We don't need to get our own back using violence as there are many other ways of resolving problems.

Committing violence only reflects our simple-mindedness and stupidity. I'm sure most of us would regret it later.

I presume that military and police officers are behind the flourishing gun trade. It is these sort of well-trained and experienced guys who know how to use firearms.

It's obviously a lie if senior security officers deny the existence of hit men. It is the commander's responsibility to control his subordinates.

I'm sure there are gangs of such assassins. But they would probably claim they are only bodyguards available for hire.

David, not his real name, 25, is a street artist in South Jakarta. He lives in Joglo, West Jakarta, with his wife and son:

Actually, civilians should be allowed to have guns for security reasons. Naturally, legal ownership would probably reduce the misuse of firearms.

We can all see how most Western countries allow their citizens to have firearms. And they mostly comply with the law.

Mind you, since most of our people here seem incapable of controlling themselves, perhaps there could be some problems if they got their hands on guns.

I think police and military officers are up to their necks in the firearms trade nowadays.

Probably, some errant, underpaid officers are trying to earn extra money by getting involved in criminal activities.

I also believe that there are many gangs of contract killers willing to do the dirty work for others, and that senior security officers are aware of this.

If they deny the existence of these hit men, then they are clearly just trying to save their reputations.

I have a friend, a military officer, who works as a bodyguard for rich people. I think he would do anything his boss tells him to do just to get him out of a tight spot.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.