Wiranto calms fear over weapon shipment rumor

TNI - Coordinating Political, Security and Legal Affairs Minister Wiranto issued a statement Sunday to give clarifications to a controversial statement made by the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo who suspected that a plan had been in place to import 5,000 illegal firearms to the country.

Wiranto said that there had been a miscommunication regarding a plan to import firearms for educational purposes.

“There has been a communication breakdown between institutions involved,” Wiranto said in a press conference on Sunday.

During a speech he delivered on Friday in front of retired military personnel, Gatot said that he received intelligence information that a number of institutions had ordered the shipment of firearms from abroad and that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had not been briefed about the matter.

Wiranto said he had spoken with Gatot, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. Budi Gunawan as well as other relevant officials, to discuss the allegation and came to a different conclusion.

“There is a procurement of 500 non-TNI standard firearms ordered to Pindad, not 5,000. It was BIN that made the order for intelligence education purpose,” he said referring to the state-owned weapons producer.

Wiranto said given that the firearms were not TNI-standard, the procurement would not need a permit from the military or the President.