Residents Found A Type 60 Mortar Belonging To The Sarawak-Paraku Guerrilla Troops, The Pamtas Task Force Said It Was Still Active

The Pamtas Task Force for the Mechanical Battalion 643/Wanara Sakti received the handover from residents of the Indonesia-Malaysia border (ANTARA/HO)

KALTARA - The Border Security Task Force (Pamtas) Mechanized Infantry Battalion 643/Wanara Sakti received 60 Commando mortars from residents. This mortar is thought to be the legacy of the Sarawak People's Guerrilla Force (PGRS) and the People's Army of North Kalimantan (Paraku).

The mortar was found by the community during land clearing in Panga Hamlet, Semanget Village, Entikong District, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan.

"At the time of land clearing, a resident hoeed something that was thought to be scrap metal, but after excavating it resembled a mortar weapon," said Dansatgas Pamtas Mechanical Infantry Battalion 643/Wns, Lieutenant Colonel Inf Hendro Wicaksono at Makotis Entikong, Antara, Tuesday, October 5. .

Knowing the discovery, residents flocked to the Panga Post and conveyed about the discovery. By postal personnel, the weapon was cleaned and confirmed that it was still active and the symbol or code from the country of Malaysia was blurred.

"The 60 Commando mortars are most likely a relic of the PGRS/Paraku confrontation that took place from 1965 to 1969 in the Semanget Village area around the Indonesia-Malaysia border area," he said.

For this incident, Dansatgas expressed its highest appreciation to the public who were aware of and took an active role in reporting the findings of the mortar weapon. Moreover, this coincides with the 76th anniversary of the TNI.

Separately, Danpos Panga Letda Inf Yopi Prasetyo said that his party often provided understanding to the community around the post about the dangers of storing firearms, ammunition or explosives, either their own property or findings from confrontations.

"We always provide education to residents to always maintain security at home by not storing firearms, ammunition or explosives that can endanger the lives of families and others," he said.

Fransiskus Sumen, one of the residents who found the mortar, said that the residents were indeed asked by the TNI to hand over firearms or dangerous goods for security reasons.

"We are often told by Pamtas Task Force personnel to hand over firearms, ammunition or explosives that we have at home for the safety of our families, this is a form of our commitment to the Pamtas Task Force," he also said.