Jayapura – Commissioner of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), Mohammad Chairul Anam, has called on all parties to stop the circulation and sale of firearms and ammunition in Papua.
According to him, the illegal arms trade poses a serious threat not only to security forces but also to civilians. “It is time for all parties to halt the sale of firearms and ammunition to armed groups, as this is extremely dangerous and could potentially cause more casualties,” Anam stressed in Jayapura on Thursday (…).
The former member of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) emphasized that law enforcement must take firm action against those involved in the illicit trade. He also urged the police, particularly in Papua, to adopt a more humanistic and dialogical approach in carrying out their duties.
“Dialogue-based approaches should be expanded in order to create a sense of comfort and peace within the community,” he said.
Anam further noted that Kompolnas has so far received four public complaints regarding similar cases. However, upon review, all of them had already been handled by the police.
Earlier in March, Papua Regional Police successfully uncovered a firearms and ammunition trafficking syndicate. The operation resulted in the arrest of seven suspects, the seizure of 17 firearms—including six long-barrel rifles, six handguns, five homemade weapons—and 3,573 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
