Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has claimed that the projectiles procured by the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) have extraordinary capabilities that exceeded those of TNI's ammunition.
The ammunition, which was recently shipped with 280 stand-alone grenade launchers (SAGL), results in a lethal wound within a distance of 9 meters and a blast radius of 400 meters, TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Wuryanto said.
After being fired, the projectile explodes twice. In the second blast, the projectile emits dozens of small metal fragments that can also be lethal, he added. "The grenades explode without impact after 14 to 19 seconds," Wuryanto said on Tuesday.
"To date, the TNI does not have munitions with such capability," he said, adding that the SAGL and other munitions that fire smoke and tear gas had been handed to the police.
Wuryanto made the statement following the controversy surrounding weapon procurement by the police, including 5,932 rounds of ammunition.
The grenades are being held by the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport's customs and excise authorities, reportedly as a result of the polemics surrounding type of the munitions.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said the munitions would be released to the police but the grenades must be kept at TNI headquarters.
The ongoing controversy highlighted the old rivalry between the National Police and the TNI, TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo previously made a controversial statement that observers said had political purposes and could jeopardize the military's political neutrality. (bbs)