September 18, 2025 | 02:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has responded to the alleged smuggling of firearms by Australian citizens supplied to the combatants of the Free Papua Movement-National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM). Brigadier General Frega Wenas, Head of the Defense Ministry's Defense Information Bureau, stated that the government is committed to preserving the country's sovereignty to the best of its ability. "We always strive for the best," he said at the Ministry of Defense office in Jakarta on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
Frega stated that the Ministry of Defense is committed to preventing parties attempting to disrupt the security of the homeland, whether from internal or external sources. He mentioned that he did not wish to delve too far into the legal process against Australian citizens suspected of illegally smuggling firearms into Indonesian territory. "Of course, that is within the jurisdiction of the Australian government," he said.
Frega emphasized that maintaining the stability of the country is the government's current priority in terms of defense and security. According to him, President Prabowo Subianto's current priority is to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people. "This requires security stability," said Frega.
Previously, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested two men from the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. They were charged with trading firearms to TPNPB-OPM.
This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team (QLD JCTT), consisting of the AFP, Queensland Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), as well as the New Zealand Police. The investigation commenced after TPNPB abducted New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens in Paro, Papua, in February 2023. Mehrtens was held captive for 592 days before being released in September 2024.
Police accused a 64-year-old man from NSW and a 44-year-old man from Queensland of attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition from Australia to Indonesia. They were also said to have discussed plans to acquire Australian military weapons for the OPM.
On a separate occasion, Chief of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) General Maruli Simanjuntak stated that the land defense forces continue to safeguard areas in the homeland to prevent the entry of smuggled firearms. According to him, Indonesia has vast areas. "But later we will try, whether the entry is from the sea, air, or land," he said during the meeting at the Parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
He did not provide a detailed explanation of the supervision that the TNI AD would apply to prevent the entry of smuggled firearms into Indonesian territory. This four-star general only stated that his staff would continue to evaluate. "Yes, we will continue to evaluate," said Maruli.
Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article
Editor's Choice: Two Australians Charged Over Suspected Arms Smuggling to Free Papua Movement
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