Security Forces’ Strong Commitment to Cut Off the Supply of Illegal Firearms to KST Papua from Other Countries
The security forces have a very strong commitment to being able to cut off all supplies of illegal firearms (senpi) from the Papuan Separtist and Terrorist Group (KST), which they have obtained from other countries.
Regarding information about where the illegal firearms supplies owned by KST Papua come from, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri RI) Tito Karnavian said that there are several sources of supply and ammunition for weapons belonging to the separatist gang.
The former Papua Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) then explained that the supply of illegal firearms entering the Bumi Cenderawasih area apparently passed through the border crossing between Papua and Papua New Guinea.
One of the countries that supplies KST Papua’s weapons is the United States (US). It is known that the Bumi Cenderawasih terrorist gang used a number of weapons including the M16 made in the United States or also known as the AR-15 which was developed by a US engineer named Eugene Stoner from ArmaLite Inc.
Around the 1950s, this rifle had a high value because of its accuracy, and was quite light in weight. This weapon was then adopted by the US Air Force in 1959 and around 1962 the name began to be patented as M16. In operation, this weapon has semi-automatic and full-automatic fire control options.
Then the second country which usually supplies illegal firearms to KST Papua is Austria. This weapon is a Steyr AUG type which is equipped with standard 5.56 x 45 mm NATO bullets and is known for its reliability and is considered to have good accuracy. In its various variants, some of them are the standard AUG A1 which was introduced in 1977, then AUG 2 to AUG 3 which were produced since 2005.
Furthermore, another country which is also a supplier for KST Papua’s illegal weapons is Russia. Because apart from using M16 weapons, it turns out that the separatist gang also used AK-47 assault rifles. For information, this weapon is the most famous and widely used assault rifle in the world.
The AK-47 itself was developed by a Russian mechanic named Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1947. When compared to other similar rifles, this weapon has a smaller size and a relatively short range.
Therefore, in order to break the supply chain of illegal firearms (senpi) owned by KST Papua, the security forces then tightened security in the border areas of Indonesia and PNG to prevent the practice of illegal firearm smuggling.
Regional Military Commander (Pangdam) other.
Supervision continues to be very strict there. As a result of the supervision and tightening of the security measures implemented, several times the security forces from the joint forces of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and National Police (Polri) succeeded in securing and thwarting the practice of illegal gun smuggling.
In October 2023, security forces succeeded in confiscating two long-barreled firearms (senpi) from members of the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) led by Ngalum Kupel in the Baton District Area, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua Mountains Province who came from Papua New Guinea.
Not only did they succeed in securing the process of illegal firearms smuggling, but the security forces, thanks to tightening their security, were also able to arrest two KST Papua members, namely Yulian Uropmabin and Kapol Uropmabin.
In fact, guarding the border areas of Indonesia and PNG is not only the duty of the TNI, but also members of the National Police as the front guard of the security apparatus of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) from threats and possible interference from groups with different ideologies than the state.
Of course, if all illegal firearms smuggling practices can be caught, stopped and the chain broken, then it is clear that everything will also be able to provide a sense of security and comfort for all people in Indonesia, especially for indigenous Papuan civil society (OAP).
The Military Commander also explained that so far the movements of the Papuan KST group, which continues to carry out various kinds of unlawful acts, clearly must continue to be monitored by the security forces of the joint TNI and Polri forces.
The tightening of security and the success in uncovering various sources of illegal firearms suppliers that had been used by KST Papua, which apparently came from other countries, is a concrete manifestation of the very strong commitment that the security forces have had so far in their efforts to sever their eyes. illegal firearms supply chain in order to maintain the security and safety of all people in Indonesia, especially in the Land of Papua.
*) Papuan students live in Jakarta
