DPR Asks Police To Be Proactive In Investigating Allegations Of Smuggling Of OPM Weapons From Australia

- KKB Papua armed organization (@papuaupdate)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I DPR RI, Major General TNI (Ret.) TB Hasanuddin highlighted the alleged smuggling of weapons to the Free Papua Organization (OPM) from Australia. According to him, the Indonesian government must immediately respond to this allegation through diplomatic and inter-institutional coordination steps, including between the police of the two countries.

This was said by TB Hasanuddin after the arrest and determination of the charges against two men from Australia who were suspected of supplying firearms and military equipment to the West Papua National Liberation Army-The Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM), recently.

"The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Canberra needs to immediately dig deeper into the judicial process of the two Australians," said TB Hasanuddin, Monday, September 15.

"At the same time facilitating efforts to exchange information between Indonesia and Australia regarding networks and the mode of smuggling weapons," he continued.

The PDIP legislator also asked the National Police to be more proactive in utilizing the cooperation that has been closely established with the Australian police. Especially in investigating allegations of smuggling illegal senpi for OPM.

"Indonesia's cooperation agreement in the police sector must be optimized immediately, especially in the exchange of data related to the network and how the arms smugglers work," said TB Hasanuddin.

In addition, this member of the House of Representatives Commission who is in charge of defense and foreign relations also asked the relevant ministries and institutions to strengthen supervision. In particular, said TB Hasanuddin, at the border entrance, both land, sea and air.

"The Ministry of Immigration, Director General of Customs and Excise, as well as TNI patrols on duty at the front lines of border gates must tighten the flow of people and goods in and out," he said.

"Not only land and sea patrols, air patrols are also needed to increase vigilance," added TB Hasanuddin.

It is known that the Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Police arrested and charged two men from Australia suspected of supplying firearms and military equipment from Australia to the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) on Saturday, September 13.

The arrest of these two arms suppliers, according to the Australian Federal Police or AFP, is the development of the Phillip Mehrtens case, which was the Pilot of Susi Air in February 2023. Mehrtens was held hostage after landing a small plane at Paro Airport, West Papua. The foreigner was released for 592 days, then released in September last year.

Through a two-year anti-terrorism investigation, Australian and New Zealand officials claim to have found evidence suspected of linking a man from Queensland State and a man from the State of New South Wales to arms trafficking activities.

The two arms suppliers, one of whom is 64 years old, were arrested in New South Wales and a 44-year-old man who was arrested in Queensland. Both were charged with a violation of firearms trade against an Indonesian-based paramilitary group with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.