The Jakarta Post, August 11, 2004
Shoot-on-sight order issued in N. Sumatra
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan
Following rampant brawls involving youth organizations, North Sumatra provincial
police declared on Tuesday that they would shoot on sight anyone involved in
brawling.
Spokesman of North Sumatra provincial police Sr. Comr. Bambang Prihady said that
the order, which came from the chief, was aimed only at incapacitating the people
concerned, not killing them. "It is action of the last resort. The police are encouraged
to shoot them on sight, if brawls have endangered the lives of others, including police
personnel," said Bambang.
The statement came after rampant brawls in the past month, which led to the death of
four people in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province.
The brawls involved the Pancasila Youth and the Functional Youth Union in which the
motive behind the brawling was mostly competition for the management of parking
lots.
The last brawl occurred on Saturday in Labuhan Deli, which caused serious injury to a
police officer, such that he had to be treated at Gleneagles Hospital, Medan.
Separately, North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin urged the leaders of both youth
groups to calm their members and ordered them not to get involved in brawling
anymore.
The governor, a former military commander, also supported a move by the provincial
police, who have imposed a province-wide, shoot-on-sight order.
"This is not a cowboy state where people can wander freely, carrying guns and
machetes," said Rizal.
However, Rizal called on the police to obey their own rules and procedures before
they shot on sight anyone involved in brawling.
According to the procedure, once the police are called to intervene in a brawl, they
warn the people involved to stop forthwith. If the people refuse, the police fire a warning
shot.
Only if their lives and that of others are endangered, may the police be allowed to
shoot brawlers down.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|