REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that Japanese security authorities have detained two Indonesians for possessing firearms.

"It is true, we have received information that two Indonesian citizens have been detained in Japan. The security authorities there have detained them for possessing firearms, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Arrmanatha Nasir said.

He said the Indonesian embassy in Japan is coordinating with the local security agencies following the arrest of two Indonesians whose identities are still unknown.

The coordination is necessary to ensure that the Indonesians have their legal rights respected, he said.

However, the spokesman still wondered whether or not the Indonesians are involved in terrorist networks and that further investigation is needed.

The Japanese security authorities are in the middle of investigating the Indonesians to see the motive behind the possession of firearms, he said.

"That is part of investigation process. One of the reasons for detaining them is possessing firearms. So they will be questioned about the purpose of possessing firearms," he said.

However, the Foreign Ministry declined to reveal the identities of the two Indonesians for several reasons.

"We cannot reveal their identities. It is quite often that the local community cannot accept some people who had been identified as joining terrorist networks soon after they returned to their hometowns. In fact, whether or not they were involved in terrorist networks is still unclear," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika