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Dozens of rifles confiscated in Indonesia-Timor Leste border area
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Civilians and members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) stand in the Indonesia-Timor Leste border area in Motamasin, Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. (Tempo/Jhon Seo)
A
border protection task force in the region between Indonesia and Timor Leste confiscated dozens of rifles and ammunition suspected to have been used in World War II and during the conflict between Timor Leste and Indonesia in 1999.
The task force confiscated 71 Springfield rifles, three active assembled long firearms, as well as ammunition from several homes in North Timor Tengah regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, field battalion Artery 11 commander Lt. Col. Arm Teguh Tri Prihanto Usman said on Tuesday.
“Dozens of firearms were mostly left behind by ancestors and stored in customary homes,” Teguh said, as quoted by tempo.co.
The weapons are believed to be the legacy of people’s ancestors, and were not only used to hunt but also in war, he added. The confiscated items are being held at the Indonesia-Timor Leste Border Protection Task Force headquarters.
All of the American-made Springfield rifles will be submitted as evidence to the 161 Wirasakti Kupang military command post's (Korem) headquarters, before being destroyed, Teguh added. (liz/rin)
