'Laskar' leader wants tighter gun control

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The leader of Laskar Merah Putih (Red and White Troop) urged the Jakarta Police on Wednesday to tighten their control of gun ownership by private citizens.

Eddy Hartawan, whose group is often spotted at rallies in support of state officials accused of involvement in corruption, said several of the group's members were threatened at gunpoint on Monday by a businessman.

"I have filed a complaint with the Jakarta Police," Eddy said. "But I also want the police to more closely monitor civilians who own guns."

Though they are called "troops", Eddy said none of the members of his group were armed.

"It seems to me that gun owners use their weapons not for self-defense, but to scare others. We do not want Jakarta to become a cowboy town where there is no law," he said.

According to Eddy, the businessman, identified as Erwin, pulled a gun on members of his group because they could not repay some money they had borrowed from him.

"They promised to pay him and we settled the matter at the Tanjung Duren Police station in West Jakarta, with the police officers serving as mediators," Eddy said.

However, as soon as they left the station Erwin pulled out a gun, he said.

"Even if he has a license to carry a gun, I think it is against the law to point it at defenseless people," Eddy said.