Kompolnas Dismisses Rumor of Police Involvement in Arms Smuggling
24 January 2017 11:48 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) has confirmed that the National Police have nothing to do with arms smuggling in Sudan. The statement was made following a supervision conducted by Kompolnas commissioners Bekto Suprapto, Andrea H. Poeloengan and Poengky Indarti on the National Police’s Garuda Bhayangkara II – FPU 8 force deployed in Darfur, North Sudan.
Earlier, the Indonesian peacekeeping force was reportedly involved in arms smuggling. Kompolnas has clarified the issue and collected some information. “Kompolnas believes that the National Police are not involved whatsoever in the alleged arms smuggling,” said the written statement on Monday, January 23, 2017.
Also read: UN Investigates Arms Smuggling Attempt by Indonesian Peacekeepers
Kompolnas reported that none of the members of the FPU-8 force were arrested. The commission said that their return to Indonesia was suspended to help clarify the issue to UNAMID, the UN, and the Sudan government.
Moreover, the items that contain illegal arms do not belong to the National Police nor the FPU-8 force because they did not bear the identity of FPU-8 and were not listed in the manifest.
Kompolnas has expressed its support for an objective, professional, accountable and transparent investigation into the case. According to the commission, the management, facilities, and quality of El Fasher Airport in Darfur are not comparable to those of Bima, Kupang and Sorong. “The chaotic nature and disorder typical of conflict areas or war zone are apparent at the airport.”
Moreover, Kompolnas has issued a recommendation for the National Police to help uncover the case and assist the FPU-8 force and Sudanese police force as well as UNAMID.
GHOIDA RAHMAH