Slingshots await rioters in Tegal

JAKARTA (JP): A Central Java regent has ordered 1,000 slingshots and 40,000 cement marbles to be used to ward off rioters in his area, a media report said yesterday.

Tegal regent HM Zakir, who is an Army colonel, said Thursday the slingshots would be provided to security personnel consisting of civil servants trained in handling unrest.

"It would be better to repulse rioters by way of pelting them with cement marbles than by spraying them with hot lead bullets," Zakir was quoted by Kompas newspaper as saying.

Contracts for making the slingshots and marbles have been awarded to local small-scale companies. When the equipment is ready, each civilian security person will be armed with one slingshot and 40 marbles.

Established to help secure last year's general election, the security personnel will be authorized to fire cement marbles at rioters as long as standard procedure is followed, the regent said.

"The weapons may be used only after rioters turn violent and each marble shot during unrest is to be accounted for," he said.

As soon as the equipment is delivered, the personnel will be trained to use the weapons on perceived rioters.

Last year, the military in the West Java city of Bekasi made headlines when it announced snakes would be used to scare off mobs intending to disrupt the general election in May. It is unknown whether the cobras were used. (pan)