Police arrest another trigger-happy civilian
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
If director Michael Moore was to make a sequel to his Oscar- winning documentary Bowling for Columbine, he might have eyed Jakarta as his next film location to depict a gun-crazed people, as the city has seen three incidents involving trigger-happy civilians within a month.
The latest incident occurred on Monday at around 11:30 p.m. when Raja Sapta, 30, and Moris Ambarista, 22, pointed their pistols at security guard Emir Manoppo at Tee Box cafe on Jl. Wijaya, South Jakarta.
The two residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta were arrested by the South Jakarta Police, whose headquarters is just across the street from the cafe.
"We will charge Raja under Article 336 of the Criminal Code on intimidation and probably Emergency Law No. 12/1951 for possessing arms without a license," South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Ghufron said on Tuesday.
He added that the police were still waiting for the suspects to show their ownership documents for the guns: an FN 9 millimeter pistol and a Colt .38 caliber, or 9 mm pistol. They told police that they had the licenses but were not carrying them that night.
Police also seized both guns and two bullet shells from the Colt. No bullets were found in the FN.
The incident occurred only a week after comedian Edy Supono, whose stage name is Parto, was detained at Setiabudi Jakarta Police Station for several days, for firing his Czechoslovakian- made BRNO 9 millimeter CZ83 into the air at Planet Hollywood, South Jakarta, damaging the ceiling of the restaurant.
Police did not detain Cipto Jiara Ponan, 29, on Aug. 10 for firing six bullets into a Toyota Kijang minivan that had hit his Porsche Cayenne Turbo in Pademangan, North Jakarta.
According to the police, civilians are only permitted to own registered firearms of less than a .32 caliber, or 7.65 mm. Higher caliber firearms are licensed only to police and military personnel.
Last year, about 800 civilians were registered in the city as gun owners, while registered civilian firearm owners number 9,702 nationwide.
Gun owners must undergo an annual assessment of their suitability to possess a firearm, including target shooting and a psychiatric test.
Monday's incident was sparked by Raja, who started a brawl at the parking lot with another visitor. Raja was drunk.
Emir tried to calm him down, asking him to leave the cafe but Raja got very upset and pushed Emir until he fell down. Raja later took his FN and aimed it at Emir's leg. He pulled the trigger five times but apparently the gun was empty.
He was later restrained by other guards and police officers.