Sutiyoso confirms plan on snipers deployment

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)