Robert Go, Jakarta – The next time rioters run amok through Jakarta's streets, they will come face to face with elite police units armed with Russian AK assault rifles, possibly loaded with live – not rubber – bullets.

The weapons each weigh about 3 kg and feature magazines with 30 rounds each, a sighting range of up to 1000 m, and a 600-rounds-per-minute rate of fire.

Last week's delivery was the second major purchase of Kalashnikov rifles from Russia. Indonesia purchased 4,000 units at the end of last year.

The police also plan to buy 18,000 additional assault rifles for Brimob, a 32,000-strong, riot-control brigade, and thousands more handguns for regular duty officers throughout the country from state-owned materiel factory Pindad.

The new weapons, according to National Police spokesman Inspector-General Didi Widayadi, are part of an organisation-wide improvement programme designed to make the country's internal security apparatus more professional and deadly.

Insp-Gen Didi said: "The security threat is becoming critical. Crime and lawlessness are rising. We are responsible for internal security, but we need more personnel and weapons. These new rifles are serious attacking weapons. We hope the sight of them alone would be enough to scare thugs and potential rioters away from criminal activities."

Both Indonesia's military and police have come under fire in recent years for using excessive force in suppressing demonstrations and riots.

Aware of the human-rights concerns facing the force, Insp-Gen Didi argued that deterring violence and anarchy remained the police's main goals, but officers should be able to commit to their jobs without fearing future prosecution for violating human rights. "We try not to kill, but ultimately, we will use any method, and whatever supply is available, to stop crime," he said.

In addition to their increased arsenal, detectives have also stepped up raids against street thugs in Jakarta and other major cities. Massive operations in the capital last month netted over 400 suspects. More than half of them – detained for various petty and serious crimes including running extortion rackets, carrying illegal weapons, and robbery – are awaiting trial.

Police officers also shot dead 17 alleged hoodlums, known locally as premans, who tried to resist or run from arrest in Jakarta.

But several sources said some gangs of thugs run under the orders of the security apparatus itself. The anti-preman campaign, these sources said, was not so much aimed at cleaning up the streets, but rather was a battle for control of a highly-evolved extortion racket controlled by elements of the security apparatus itself.

But Insp-Gen Didi declined to comment on this side of the issue and said simply that the police wanted to see calm and order restored throughout the country. "We have had successes in Jakarta, but more efforts will be devoted to controlling the situation in the provinces," he said.

He identified hot spots such as Aceh, Maluku and Kalimantan as potential areas where the police would pay special attention to implementing their upgrade programme.