Weapons offered at Police Expo 2001

Weapons offered at Police Expo 2001

JAKARTA (JP): An exhibition of police and security equipment
opened here on Thursday amid growing concerns over poor security
enforcement and widespread ownership of illegal firearms in the
capital.

Some 60 exhibitors are participating in the three-day Police
Expo 2001 at Istora Senayan sports center, Central Jakarta.
Exhibitors include police units, weapons supply companies and
security consultants.

At least five companies exhibiting are offering discount
firearms for the duration of the event.

"The special price of Rp 20 million is only offered during the
exhibition. Normally this Korean-made gas pistol is worth Rp 27
million," a counter attendant, Fitter Firdaus, said.

The company also offers automatic hunting rifles and pistols
that fire rubber and blank ammunition.

"With the cash and carry service, we will take care of the
license," he said.

No pistols capable of firing live bullets are offered at the
expo.

At another counter, Novi said her company mostly offered
products made by Walther, Colt and Smith & Wesson, but said they
did not sell the products directly to visitors during the
exhibition.

"After registering their names here, we suggest that those who
are interested go to our office for further purchase procedures,"
Novi said, adding that six people had registered their names in
the first few hours after the counter opened on Thursday.

Novi said the office would then arrange for the buyers to take
a psychological test and fulfill other license requirements.

One visitor who had just registered his name on the list said
that he was curious about the procedures involved in obtaining a
gun license.

"It seems too easy. I talked to a counter attendant who
persuaded me to use a 'short cut'. He promised to take care of
everything," said the man, who claimed to be an official from the
Ministry of Home Affairs.

National Police secretary-general Comr. Gen. Yun Mulyana said
that firearms and other security equipment were on display at the
exhibition for the benefit of the public.

"We want to disseminate information to the public about our
works and provide basic knowledge for those who want to protect
themselves with various types of security equipment," he said.

"This kind of exhibition will help reduce the incidence of
illegal ownership of firearms as people will be assisted in the
selection of quality and appropriate weapons and will be assisted
in obtaining licenses for the firearms," he added.

The illegal ownership of weapons has been a major headache for
police. Through the Sapu Jagat operation started early this
month, police have confiscated at least 95 weapons. Many more,
however, are believed to be on the streets.

Other displays at the exhibition attracting considerable
attention include the driving simulator and the computerized
driver's license theory test.(emf)