Sutiyoso confirms plan on snipers deployment

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso confirmed on Friday that the City Police would deploy sharp shooters at 25 main business centers to anticipate possible mass unrest during the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next August.

"The city police headquarters has agreed to deploy its sharp shooters to protect the business centers from possible outbreaks during the MPR general session," he told reporters at City Hall.

"But how many personnel to be deployed or where their positions are will be up to them to decide," he said.

Leaders of several city agencies agreed on Wednesday to take strong action against perpetrators and looters if things got out of control during the event.

"We must provide security to businesspeople operating in the city as part of the effort to help recover our economy," the governor said.

"It's not that we impose discriminatory measures here. But we have to put priority," he added.

The business centers to be guarded by the snipers will include Mangga Dua, Mangga Besar, Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada shopping centers in West Jakarta; Blok M, Mayestik, Pasar Minggu and Pondok Indah Mall in South Jakarta; Jatinegara and Rawamangun in East Jakarta; Pasar Baru, Tanah Abang and Senen markets in Central Jakarta; and Kelapa Gading, Sunter Podomoro and Mega Mall Pluit in North Jakarta.

Sutiyoso, who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin), said he was confident that the police would deploy their best snipers in order to avoid any unfortunate accidents.

"Of course they don't want to take any risks by deploying unskilled shooters. There's nothing to worry about," he said.

"Besides, soldiers and police officers have shooting skill as one of their basic skills," he added.

The governor, however, said it was not necessary to deploy sharp shooters from the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) to help safeguard the capital.

"Officers of the police's elite Mobile Brigade units are also skillful snipers. It's not a very difficult task to do," Sutiyoso, once a senior officer at Kopassus, said.

"I, myself, can shoot them (rioters) from a certain distance without a miss. Most soldiers and police officers should be able to do that," he added. (nvn)