Joint Investigation on Illegal Arms Sales Called for

ANTARA FOTO/IWAN ADISAPUTRA

Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers prepare to take a helicopter to Nduga in Wamena, Papua, Wednesday (5/12/2018). The joint forces have continued to try to find a solution to problems revolving around the Armed Criminal Group (KKB), which allegedly killed 31 workers of PT Istika Karya during the construction of the Trans Papua road network in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi district, Nduga regency, Papua.

AMBON, KOMPAS — An investigation into illegal sales of arms and ammunition is crucially needed in an effort to stop disturbances by armed criminal groups in Papua. The Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) should, therefore, immediately establish a joint team to investigate the illegal weapons sales network involving unscrupulous members of the Polri, the Army and the Air Force.

"The network must be uncovered immediately and TNI and Polri have the authority to do it. Maybe the recent finding of two guns and 600 bullets was just an iceberg phenomenon. It is very dangerous, ”said the head of the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Maluku, Benediktus Sarkol, said in Ambon on Friday (26/2/2021).

According to him, the TNI and Polri need to work together to thoroughly investigate the sales of illegal weapons and ammunition because the cases involved cross-institutional security officers and the illegal sales occurred cross-border regions. Moreover, the illegal arms sale also contributed to the escalation of armed conflicts Papua, which took many victims and caused the evacuation of many residents.

They sold a standard military revolver for Rp 12 million (US$857) and a home-made long-barreled weapon like the SS1 type for Rp 20 million.

As previously reported, two members of the Ambon Island and Lease Islands Police, namely Chief Brigadier SAT and Chief Brigadier MRA were involved in the illegal sale of two weapons. They sold a standard military revolver for Rp 12 million (US$857) and a home-made long-barreled weapon like the SS1 type for Rp 20 million. There was also the involvement of a TNI member from the Battalion 733 / Masariku who sold 600 bullets of 5.53 millimeter caliber at Rp 1.5 million. The weapons and ammunition were purchased by J, a Papuan. The transaction took place in Ambon.

AFP

This handout picture released by sesarch and rescue team and available on December 18, 2016 shows Indonesian soldiers examining the Hercules military plane A-1334 that crashed in Wamena on December 18, 2016. Amilitary plane crashed on December 18 in remote mountainous region of Indonesia\'s Papua, killing 13 people on board, military and police officials said.

J then took the illegal arms out of Ambon to Seram Island by ship. From Seram Island, he crossed to Papua. On 10 Feb, J was arrested by police in Bintuni, West Papua. J at that time wanted to distribute weapons and ammunition to a middleman which would later be delivered to the armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua.

The suspect has been detained and processed, but his identity can be disclosed because he is still under investigation. Just wait for the process, we will disclose it later.

On Thursday morning, the Pattimura Air Force Base, Ambon, revealed the involvement of its member in the illegal arms sale. "The suspect has been detained and processed, but his identity can be disclosed because he is still under investigation. Just wait for the process, we will disclose it later, ”said the head the information department at the Pattimura Air Force Base, Ambon, Second Lieutenant (Sus) Yogi Tri Santoso.

Based on the information gathered by Kompas, the accused was chief solider with an initial AL. Separately, the head of the Ambon Island and Lease Islands Police, Senior Commissioner Leo Simatupang, said that AL was involved in the sale of the revolver by Chief Brigadier MRA. “They are brothers,” he said about the relationship between AL And MRA.

According to Leo, the revolver belonged to the National Police, which was kept in the Maluku Regional Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) arsenal. In 2000, when a social conflict broke out in Maluku, rioters broke into the arsenal. Thousands of weapons were taken away. "Including the revolver," he said.

ANTARA/GUSTI TANATI

Security officers stand guard as residents from Wamena arrive with Indonesian military aircraft following riots, at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia, October 2, 2019. Picture taken October 2, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.

A further investigation will be further carried out to determine how AL and MRA got the weapon and sold it. The investigations are still being carried out by military police at the Pattimura Air Force Base. (FRN/FLO)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).