Police seize firearms from Soeharto's family

Police seize firearms from Soeharto's family

JAKARTA (JP): Police on Monday seized 108 guns belonging to
former president Soeharto and his family because their permits
had expired.

"Fifty seven (of the seized guns) came from Soeharto's private
gun collection," National Police spokesman Sen. Supt. Timbul
Sianturi said, adding that the confiscated weapons were of
various makes and types, including Walters and Colts.

Timbul said the guns in Soeharto's collection had already had
their triggers removed and were for show only.

"So they can only be used to knock someone on the head," he
quipped.

The remaining 51 guns were used for recreation and were
registered to Soeharto's children, namely Bambang Trihatmodjo,
Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Indra
Rukmana. Some were in the name of Tutut's husband, Indra Rukmana.

"These are sporting guns," Timbul remarked.

Timbul said no force was needed to confiscate the guns.

"We found out that the permits had expired so we asked them to
hand over the guns to us, which they did," he said.

The permits were said to have been expired for about a year.
There was no explanation why the weapons were only confiscated
now.

National Police director of guns and explosive materials
control Sen. Supt. J.A. Nardji said the guns could be returned to
Soeharto and his family if their permits were renewed.

However, Nardji said there was really no need for the Soeharto
family to keep guns, other than as a collection, as they were
already provided with personal guards.

Timbul stressed that the seizure was part of a wider police
Sapu Jaya Mandiri operation being conducted by police to sweep
for guns and explosive materials, and not as a response to
President Abdurrahman Wahid's order last week to disarm
Soeharto's bodyguards.

"There is already a special team carrying out (the
President's) order," Timbul said without elaborating.

On Friday, National Police chief Gen. Bimantoro said a team
consisting of members from Bakin (State Intelligence Coordinating
Board), Bais (the Indonesian Military's Strategic Intelligence
Agency) and the National Police had been set up to disarm
Soeharto's private bodyguards.

However, Timbul said that there was no a report yet on its
progress.

Separately, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said that there
were no signs that the seized weapons were ones being used by
Soeharto's personal security guards.

"There is no indication that the arms were being used by
Soeharto's guards. The seized arms belonging to Soeharto are
unused because their permits have expired," he said.(jaw/bby)