NGO protests gun trade

JAKARTA (JP): Government Watch (Gowa), a nongovernmental organization which keeps tabs on the government's performance, protested on Friday the National Police's decision to openly sell guns to public.

Gowa coordinator Farid R. Faqih said the decision was incompatible with the effort to create peace and order in society.

"Gun possession encourages people to commit anarchic acts," Farid told The Jakarta Post.

He aired the protest following an exhibition on police technology from July 20 until July 23 at the Jakarta Convention Center in South Jakarta, which offered various guns for sale to the public.

"By making this decision, the police have consciously contributed to the creation of an unsafe environment in society," he said.

Farid added that easier requirements for possessing firearms would encourage more and more people to obtain them.

"It used to be very difficult to own a gun because people had to go to BAIS (Indonesian Military Intelligence) and go through a long procedure," Farid said.

An operations manager of a firearms supplier at the exhibition said that it would only take three months for an applicant to have his or her permit issued by the National Police. "Our company will help with the paperwork and other processes."

Farid said the police now tried to profit from firearms sales.

"Its more profit-oriented than security-orientated in contrast to what the police claimed during the exhibition," he said.

Top executives of private companies, such as president directors, chief commissioners, commissioners, presidents, and directors of finance can apply for a firearms permit.

Legislators, ministers, governors and even the cabinet secretary are also accommodated.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida earlier said that the seemingly easy procedures for obtaining a firearm by a member of the public were meant to curb gun smuggling and illegal gun possession in the country. (08)