Public order office proposes to buy 60 more guns

JAKARTA (JP): The City's Public Order Office announced on Friday that it is proposing to buy about 60 more guns to equip its officers amid increasing public opposition to its operations, especially from becak (three-wheeled pedicab) drivers.

The office's head Firman Hutajulu admitted that the guns, mostly gas pistols and rubber bullet pistols, would be used by officers for self-defense purposes during public order operations.

"You know we are currently facing more difficult situations in our public order operations. The guns are needed for self defense," Firman told reporters at the City Hall.

He said the guns would be given to chiefs of public order groups, chiefs of operations, and chiefs of public order officers in the city's five mayoralties.

Asked about the amount of money needed to purchase the guns, Firman said that the total was similar to last year's procurement of 60 guns.

Last year, the public order office bought some 60 German-made guns with a price tag of Rp 22 million (US$2,444) each. Last year's city budget allocated Rp 3 billion for the guns and training for the public order officers.

Separately, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi admitted that the administration is still discussing the proposal to buy more guns for public order officers.

"I don't know the number of guns as it is still being discussed," Kahfi said, quickly adding that purchasing the guns was not an urgent matter.

He revealed purchasing firearms was in anticipation of the city's plan to add 1,000 more Banpol (civilian police auxiliary) officers.

He said the city currently has 2,000 Banpol officers who were recruited since last year and have been planning for a while to increase the number to 3,000 officers.

"If we need 60 guns now, then you calculate how many guns we need if we increase the Banpol officers by 1,000 to 3,000," Kahfi told reporters at the City Hall.

He denied that purchasing the guns was due to the city's administration plan to increase its public order operations, including its controversial campaign to rid Becak from Jakarta.

He also denied that it had anything to do with the death of a Civilian Defense officer (Hansip), named Matsani who was allegedly mobbed and beaten to death by pedicab drivers in a clash after a becak raid last month.

"It has nothing to do with Matsani or pedicab drivers," Kahfi said.

Matsani was killed during a clash between public order officers and pedicab drivers in the Cideng area, Central Jakarta. The pedicab drivers also burned two public order vans.

Raids against becak continued on Thursday when the West Jakarta Mayoralty public order officers seized some 176 pedicabs operating in districts of Tamansari, Tambora and Grogol Petamburan.

Earlier, the officers seized 174 pedicabs in Tamansari, 67 pedicabs in Tambora and 131 pedicabs in Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta. Most of the pedicabs in West Jakarta operate in the three districts.

This years city budget has allocated about Rp 36 billion in funding for public order operations against pedicab drivers, street vendors, prostitutes and transvestites.

There are at least 6,000 pedicabs operating in the city's four mayoralties, except the South Jakarta mayoralty.

Pedicab was banned in the city according to bylaw No. 11/1988 on public order. (jun)