NGO protests gun trade

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)