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Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

GUN SALES ARE BRISK

As citizens handle their own security


Indonesia What's behind the violence?

East Timor Chaos reigns

"We have a collection of pistols, paralyzing gas, electric-shock sticks and other types of weapon," says gun trader Suhandjoko. "Just tell me what suits you and I'll come straight away." Yes, business is booming for Jakarta gun merchants, as more and more citizens take the law into their own hands.

Small arms are even sold in upscale cafes and pubs. One consumer, banker Nathaliel Lie, bought his FN-45 pistol at a disco. The gun and 12 bullets cost him $900. If he requires more ammunition, he need only call a certain mobile phone number.

Lie knew his purchase was illegal, but he's prepared to take the risk. "People of Chinese descent have become targets," he says. "Security has become a luxury, particularly when the police are no longer respected by the people."

Demand is strong. Before the May riots, air pistol maker Oyo Rohaya sold perhaps 15 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm guns a month; today he sells more than 1,000. Much of his stock comes from military personnel, so he isn't too worried about legal complications. "I don't think they have the guts to report me,"he says. "They have families, after all."

The Jakarta police make noises about cracking down on the burgeoning trade. But that is unlikely to do much more than drive the business underground for a while. Anyhow, the boom is being fueled by people's lack of confidence in the police. "When they do their job better," says criminologist Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, "people won't want to buy guns anymore."

- By Dewi Loveard/Jakarta


This edition's table of contents | Asiaweek home

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