REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian Police (Polri) had issued civilian ownership licences for 18,030 guns, according to Indonesia Police Watch (IPW). "IPW concerns that Polri has issued so many civilian gun licences. This year, Polri has violated the government regulation by exceeding the existing limit by almost 700 percent," IPW Presidium Chairman Neta S Pane said here on Tuesday.

According to the existing regulation, Polri is allowed to issue firearm ownership licences for only 2,608 guns to civilians in 2012. "But the fact is that Polri has issued 18,030 gun licences," Pane noted.

Based on the Law No. 22/2011 on the State Budget (APBN) 2012, the government has a target of receiving revenues worth 2,608,425,000 IDR from issuing licences for firearms and explosives to civilians. According to the Government Regulation No. 50/2010 on the Non-Tax State Revenues (PNPB), the government charges 1 million IDR per civilian gun licence.

It means that Polri was allowed to issue 2,608 licences to civilians. The fact, however, is Polri has issued 18,030 permits and received revenues worth around 18 billion IDR, Pane explained.

"A total of 2.6 billion IDR has to be deposited in the state treasury, so where is the remaining 15.4 billion IDR? Where does the money go?" he added.

Therefore, IPW has urged the State Audit Agency (BPK) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to conduct an investigation into the matter. Polri has been under intense scrutiny for issuing firearms to inappropriate people lately. 

Under Indonesia`s gun laws, only citizens employed in select professions may have a gun permit. Among those allowed to legally carry guns in Indonesia are doctors, public officials, lawmakers, members of the military and police, and corporate heads.