Public order officers to be armed with gas pistols

JAKARTA (JP): In a desperate attempt to maintain security in the capital, the city administration has spent Rp 1.2 billion (US$126.315) to purchase 60 gas pistols to equip its public order and civil defense officers.

Head of the City Public Order Office Hadi Utomo said on Tuesday that the pistols were needed for self defense in case of attacks during operations to restore order.

"Jakartans seem to be more 'brutal'. They often neglect the law which may result in injury to our officials," Hadi said.

Each of the German-made Melcher pistols costs Rp 20 million, which covers training fee and license from the National Police headquarter, Hadi added.

He said the city administration had used the city budget allocated for routine expenditures to purchase the pistols.

Given the worsening security conditions, the city administration had originally planned to buy 500 pistols, Hadi said.

The .9 millimeter caliber weapon, with 100 mm barrel, can paralyze a person for 10 minutes due to its anesthetic effect.

Hadi said operational unit commanders would have priority to receive the pistols.

As part of preparatory safety measures, the city office will be strict when selecting officers entitled to carry the weapon. The testing is aimed at determining psychological and technical preparedness of an officer to possess a fire arm.

"After the selection, the eligible officers will be trained for at least two weeks. Hopefully we can deploy them next month," Hadi said.

Hadi said each officer would be provided with 25 live bullets, 10 empty bullets and 15 gas bullets during the training.

According to official data, the capital has at least 3,000 city public order officers, including the new recruits who formerly were members of the now defunct People's Security (Kamra) civilian guard.

Hadi said the officers selected to carry the gas pistols would not be allowed to lend the weapons to anyone.

"We will fire any officer who is found guilty of violating the rule," Hadi warned.

Contacted separately, Muta'alim of the United Development Party (PPP) said the pistols were neither necessary nor urgent for the public order and civil defense officers.

He suggested that the city administration coordinate with the city police in coping with security problems in the capital, including mass rallies.

"The city public order office has the authority to handle security problems, but it doesn't mean that they should be armed with guns," he said.

Hadi also denied reports that police were involved in various operations held to search street vendors.

He also said the city administration had never consulted the City Council about the provision of funds to buy the pistols.

"There was no allocation of funds for the purchase of pistols, either in the 2001 city budget or last year's budget. It must have been proposed under a different item in the city budget," he said, but failed to mention from which section the funds were allocated.

He said that Rp 20 million was too much for a gas pistol. "It could be used for other purposes," he said. (07/04)