Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A Polish citizen is currently in custody with police in Papua over his alleged attempt to film what the Indonesian Military (TNI) claims was a planned "ammunition trade" between two armed groups in the restive province.
The Pole, identified only as JF, 39, was arrested on his way to the location of the handover at Habema Lake in Jayawijaya last Friday, according to the police.
172/PWY Military Command commander Col. Inf. J. Binsar P. Sianipar told reporters on Wednesday that his personnel had found indications that he was linked to an armed group.
"He had communicated with the armed group, and that day he was going to Habema Lake to cover the sale of hundreds of rounds of ammunition," he said, adding that the suspect had been planning to expose the event to the world.
Binsar said JF had come to Indonesia on a tourist visa and had visited Raja Ampat in West Papua. "It is reprehensible that [he] entered Indonesia using a tourist visa but is also engaging in another activity – building relations with armed groups."
Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yan Piet Reba told The Jakarta Post that the ammunition transaction was between an armed group operating in Wamena and another group from Puncak Jaya.
"JF was planning to go to Habema Lake, where representatives of the armed group from Puncak Jaya were waiting to buy the ammunition," he said.
Police have questioned four people linked to the case. "Three people have been sent to the Papua Police, one is a Polish national and the other two are locals," Yan Piet said. (ahw)