Embassy Confirms Indonesian Police Officers Arrest in Sudan
23 January 2017 20:30 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir, confirmed that members of the Indonesian peace mission force were arrested in Sudan. Arrmanatha says that Indonesian officials in Sudan have already accompanied them. They were detained under the charges of weapon smuggling.
“The Indonesian Ambassador in Khartoum is currently on location to provide assistance to the Indonesian police troop,” Arrmanatha said on Monday, January 23, 2017, adding that the case is still under investigation.
“The United Nation (UN) is investigating it. We received an initial report, saying that the objects are not owned by the Indonesian Police officers,” Arrmanatha explained.
Arrmanatha added that legal assistance will be provided to the Indonesian Police officers.
Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Maj. Gen. Suryanto said that the information regarding an alleged smuggle attempt by the members of the Indonesia peace mission force will be explained by the Army’s Strategic Intelligence Agency head (Kabais).
The police officers who joined the peace mission in Sudan or the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were arrested on January 20, 2017 before departing from Al-Fashir Airport in Darfur, Sudan.
Dozens of firearms were found inside a luggage that were allegedly owned by the Indonesian Police officers.
The UNAMID’s mission was commenced in 2007 to stop the violence surrounding West Sudan. UNAMID is the world’s second largest peace mission provided with a US$ 1,35 billion budget and 2,000 personnel.
YOHANES PASKALIS | SUDAN TRIBUNE
