Jakarta – The Indonesia Military (TNI) says the export of weaponry to the Philippines has been done in accordance with procedural administrative requirements.
"The Defense Ministry is responsible for the procurement of the weaponry and the TNI is responsible for the issuing of a clearance," TNI Supreme Commander Gen. Djoko Santoso said during a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission I on defense in Jakarta on Monday.
"The TNI looked to see whether all of the necessary procedures and mechanisms had been fulfilled by the Defense Ministry. Everything was in compliance with the rules, so we issued a clearance. Once the weapons arrived at the destination country, the responsibility was theirs and no longer in the hands of the Indonesian government and military," he added.
The Philippine Customs recently confiscated weapons manufactured by the country's state weapon maker, PT Pindad in Bandung, on board the MV Capt. Ufuk, which was moored at Mariveles Port on Bataan Peninsula's southern tip.
The vessel was carrying 10 P-2 handguns for the Philippines and 100 SS1-V1 assault rifles for Mali. Philippine authorities alleged that the firearms and ammunition were destined for terrorist groups and criminal organizations in Asia and Africa.
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said, after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Monday, that PT Pindad had done nothing wrong and all of the administrative requirements had been complied with.
"The procurement through Pindad was authorized according to administrative documents and customs and excise documents. The only issue the Philippine police are investigating is why the vessel [carrying military weapons] had to moor elsewhere before sailing to Manila," he told reporters.
In a later meeting with the House, Juwono said there was a finding suggesting that not all of the weapons had arrived at their destination point.
"The total number of weapons sent was 110 firearms to the Philippines and Mali. However, recent facts show that before reaching their destination point, some of the SS1 assault rifles had been unloaded somewhere else. This is currently under the investigation of the Philippine police," he said.
Juwono said PT Pindad's responsibility stopped once it had delivered the weapons to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. "The delivery was done by PT Internusa in Bandung. From the port and on, responsibility for the weapons fell on the buyer and its appointed shipping company, PT Tirta Samudera Taraka," he said.