Police vow to rid city of firecracker
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although police failed to rid Jakarta of firecrackers during the fasting month of Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri holidays, they have reiterated their ambitious goal of a firecracker-free New Year's eve in Jakarta.
Police vowed on Saturday that they would be firm in enforcing a ban on Jakarta residents trading and using firecrackers.
"Police will intensify their firecracker raids and arrest those who are found making, carrying, setting off and distributing firecrackers," said Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara on Saturday.
During its latest, three-day raid, police arrested 137 suspects and seized a total of 1.4 million firecrackers from across the Greater Jakarta area.
The largest seizures occurred in the Tangerang Police district, where some one million firecrackers were confiscated and 16 suspects captured.
Police also reported that they had managed to arrest two people alleged to be major distributors, Kartika, 28 and Enggun, 36, in its raid on a firecracker warehouse on Jl. Jatibunder, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
However, police made no arrests during a raid in East Jakarta, although they managed to seize 40,290 firecrackers.
According to Makbul, setting off and trading in firecrackers, especially the larger varieties, were against the law as they could endanger the public.
Makbul said those caught breaking the law could be charged under Criminal Code No. 187 on explosives, which carries a maximum eight year jail sentence. In addition, under Emergency Law No. 12 1951, those who distribute, trade and own firecrackers can be sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison.
Thus far, no suspects are reported to have faced court. Firecracker explosions can still be heard in some parts of the capital, raising questions about the seriousness of the police's promise to clamp down on them.
Previously, the police arrested 135 suspects and confiscated a total of 10.7 million firecrackers during its operation code- named Ketupat Lilin 2001, which started in November.
But there have been no reports of the suspects facing court.