Military to check illegal gun sales to GAM: Graito

SURABAYA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Rear Marshal Graito Usodo said on Friday that the military would recheck the Jakarta Police's discovery of illegal gun sales to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) allegedly involving TNI personnel.

"If the Jakarta Police chief has announced it (the finding), we will just believe him for the time being. We (TNI) have yet to hear or read the report on the finding. As soon as the case goes to the Military Police we will begin the probe," Graito told reporters after a roll call at the Madura pier of the Ujung Naval Base here.

Asked about the type of rifles sold by the syndicate, including AK 47 assault rifles, Graito said that each party should be extra careful.

"The rifles (sold to GAM) may not be local products which were used by TNI. The guns may have been made in Vietnam. Let's not make any conclusions. Let's respect the presumption of innocence. TNI will be open," Graito said.

Kompas morning daily quoted Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi as saying that Jakarta Police detectives had cracked an illegal gun and ammunition sale ring involving military personnel.

Nurfaizi said thousands of M-16 and AK-47 bullets and various types of rifles, including FN pistols, SS-1 and Mauser guns were confiscated. "The boxes of bullets bear the word Pindad," Nurfaizi said, referring to the Bandung-based Army industry.

Nurfaizi told his subordinates to go ahead with their findings. "Don't be afraid," he was quoted by Kompas as saying.

When asked if the illegal gun sales reflected the weakness of TNI intelligence, Graito said, "That's not the point. We cannot conclude anything based on assumptions. I and the TNI chief have been here since yesterday. Nothing is clear to us."

Graito refused to comment when reporters asked whether or not the revelation of the illegal gun sales could be the continuation of the cases involving Haryogi Maulani and Agus Isrok, sons of military top brass officers. "I don't want to comment on that."

Meanwhile in Bandung, director of finance and administrative affairs of PT Pindad denied that some of the company staff were among those detained by Jakarta Police over the illegal gun sales.

"After having physically checked in Jakarta we are assured that none of our employees are involved in the illegal business. We also found that none of the items seized by the police were PT Pindad products," Hermawan Hadimulya told a media briefing on Friday.

Hadimulya said PT Pindad had employed 10 retired Army and two active Army personnel. "They are all at work as usual, except Lt. Col. Triono, who has gone on the haj pilgrimage."

He said the SS1 guns and the pistols were not made by Pindad. "They could have been made in Belgium or Sweden," he said, admitting that some of the bullets were made by Pindad.

Pindad produced 10,000 SS1 guns and between 60 million and 100 million bullets annually, he said. Pindad sold its products to TNI and the Ministry of Defense and Security Affairs. "Overseas sales were carried out based on a government-to-government deal," he said, assuring that the safety of the transported weapons was guaranteed.

"PT Pindad has never made deals with individuals or private companies," he said. (nur/25/sur)