Police begin raids for illegal guns

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police announced on Monday a new operation to seize illegal firearms and review civilian gun licenses in order to reduce crime across the country.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Aryanto Boedihardjo said the police would hold a series of raids at seaports and airports as well as border areas to prevent any arms smuggling into the country.

"We will also check every small fishing boat -- which are usually used to smuggle firearms -- from other countries," he said.

Apart from ports and boats, the police would also examine all packages sent through post offices and express delivery services to find out whether they contained illegal weaponry.

"We will also hold raids along the streets to check cars and motorcycles to find out if there are people carrying illegal firearms," Aryanto said.

The move comes in the wake of a marked increase in the number of violent crimes such as armed robberies and murders.

According to one police officer, who refused to be named, the number of illegal guns circulating in Jakarta alone reached around 100,000 most of them were used for robberies and other crimes.

Apart from seizing illegal guns, the police are also planning to review civilian gun licenses as there were many cases in which their owners were found to have misused their guns to intimidate other people instead of defending themselves during a dangerous situation.

In August last year, popular comedian Parto made headlines after he fired his gun in the air in the lobby of the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Jakarta.

Another shooting case occurred on the 2005 New Year's Day when businessman Adiguna Sutowo shot and killed a waiter at a Hilton Hotel bar in Central Jakarta.

Law No. 8/1948 on possession and use of firearms authorizes the National Police to license civilians to possess guns for self-defense purposes.

"So far we have issued at least 35,593 licenses for gun ownership, including licenses for live bullets, rubber bullets and even pellet guns," Aryanto said.

He said the police would apply more restrictive rules in granting new licenses for gun ownership as well as renewal.

"We will tighten the regulations including administrative requirements and improve the tests to make sure that they deserve to carry a gun," Aryanto said.

He explained that first-time applicants have to fulfill several administrative requirements, such as whether they were holding certain positions that "required" them to carry guns, and also pass the minimum third-class level in shooting accuracy as well as psychological and medical tests.

Under the new regulation set by the police, gun owners seeking license renewals must take those tests again, even if they have recently passed them all.

The police will also conduct psychiatric evaluations to determine whether a potential gun owner might have a tendency toward psychopathic, paranoid or sadistic behavior and could represent a danger to public safety.

"We'll do a random check on licensed gun owners to see if they are still allowed to have their licenses," Aryanto reiterated.