Military vows to help police halt illegal trade of weapons (fwd)

["M.G.G. Pillai" <pillai@mgg.pc.my>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 07 Mar 2000 03:38:55
From: tapol@gn.apc.org
Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <indonesia-act@igc.org>
To: Recipients of indonesia-act <indonesia-act@igc.org>
Subject: Military vows to help police halt illegal trade of weapons

From: TAPOL <tapol@gn.apc.org>
Subject: Military vows to help police halt illegal trade of weapons

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Jakarta Post
March 07, 2000 
 
Military vows to help police halt illegal trade of weapons

CILODONG, Bogor (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) vowed to support the 
National Police's crackdown on illegal arms sales among civilians, including 
weapons smuggled to the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM). 

TNI spokesman Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo said on Monday an order had been 
issued to the three branches of the armed forces -- the Army, Navy and Air 
Force -- to assist the police in seizing illegal weapons that might be used 
in crimes or separatist activities. 

"All military units across the country have been ordered to help the police 
raid the trade of illegal weapons and seize all the weapons spreading 
illegally in the country," Graito said on the sidelines of a celebration 
marking the 32nd anniversary of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command 
(Kostrad) here. 

He was responding to fears that the trade of illegal weapons in the country 
had reached an alarming level. 

He said TNI was concerned about the alleged involvement of servicemen in the 
attempted sale of weapons to GAM which was foiled recently by the city 
police. TNI, he said, would learn from the case and take strict measures 
against any soldiers involved. 

"They might not know that the weapons they sell fall into the hands of Aceh 
rebels. But this is not an excuse for such humiliating deeds," he said Also 
attending the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, chief of the Jakarta 
Military Command, who confirmed he had been ordered by the Army chief to help 
the Jakarta Police end the illegal sale of guns, which has raised fears of 
armed robberies and shootings among city residents. 

"The instruction was given because I am responsible for security and order in 
the capital," he said. 

He warned servicemen against misusing their guns for criminal purposes, 
saying such actions violated the Criminal Code and the TNI Code of Ethics. 

However, he dismissed allegations that TNI members were involved in the 
illegal sale of arms to GAM rebels. 

"It is impossible for soldiers to sell their weapons to the enemy. I do not 
believe that TNI members would commit such an offense," he said. 

The chief of the Military Police, Maj. Gen. Djasri Marin, however, said his 
men had arrested two Army soldiers for their alleged involvement in the sale 
of arms to Aceh. 

"During questioning, the two, an Army sergeant and corporal, admitted they 
bought a FN-45 pistol from a local man identified as Benny. The deal occurred 
sometime in February. The gun was then sold to an Acehnese, identified as 
Hanafiah. We have yet to investigate whether he is a rebel or a broker," he 
said. 

He said the two soldiers would stand trial in a military tribunal in the near 
future, adding that the Military Police were still searching for Benny. 

He said the Military Police would continue to cooperate with the police to 
prevent the misuse of guns among servicemen. (rms) 
 
 

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TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904   Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh

26 years - and still going strong 
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