The Udayana Military Command has issued handguns to the governors of provinces under its jurisdiction — Bali, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) — following their participation in military training in Natuna.

The 7.65-millimeter semiautomatic P3A pistols — produced by state-owned weapons manufacturer Pindad — were handed over to Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika and NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya by Udayana Military commander Maj. Gen. Komaruddin Simanjuntak in a ceremony on Thursday in Denpasar, Bali.

NTB Governor Zainul Majdi did not attend the ceremony.

The move was reportedly a thank-you to all provincial leaders for their support during the Quick-Reaction Strike (PPRC) military training in Natuna, Riau Islands, in May, despite the fact that only 23 governors had taken part in the drills.

Fourteen other military commands across the country are set to present similar handguns to governors in their respective jurisdictions following a directive from Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, said Komaruddin.

“Our participation [in the training] will be recognized as an achievement. While for the governors, we respect both those who were able to participate in the exercise and those who could only lend their support on account of their age or physical condition,” Komaruddin said.

Komaruddin said the move was supported by a prevailing law allowing governors to possess weapons.

Governors planning to use the guns for shooting drills are required to report to their nearest military command.

“That’s why we also invited the media to the event, so the public can be informed that governors now have firearms,” Komaruddin added.

Pastika, who is a retired three-star police general, said he would not use the gun but keep it as a gift.

He went on to praise the PPRC military training, saying “it showed our soldiers have great capability. We [governors] feel more confident that, as a nation, we are strong.”

Frans, who did not take part in the military exercise, said the handing over a gun to each governor was a “reminder to us [governors] that it is our duty to defend the nation.”

“But, I am already safe,” Frans said, in reply to a question as to whether he would use the gun to protect himself.

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