Surfing the web to get some airsoft stories or news, I happened to have googled airsoft in Indonesia and have come across this. It is about a report of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group urging the Indonesian government to conduct an arms audit as "illicit arms" are a cause to worry and reinforce existing rules and regulations governing the use and ownership of firearms. This also includes airsoft as it now has a popular following in Indonesia with many airsoft clubs and teams, brought about by the lowered costs of airsoft guns due to ACMs.

This is not about airsoft alone, but the smuggling and trading of firearms from various sources. While Indonesia has a very low gun ownership, being one of the most populous nations, and the largest muslim nation, incidents involving the use of firearms are comparatively low, as compared to Thailand and the Philippines, which are said to have a gun culture.

Previously, airsoft was not regulated by the national government until a spate of crimes involving airsoft guns caused their categorization as weapons and regulated in 2004. However, since airsoft is the least worrying part of the legal or illegal firearms business, it is not strictly enforced, and airsoft events and sales went on unhindered by the restrictions. However, airsoft came into the spotlight when a jihadi training camp in Aceh Province was found with airsoft guns being used for training and were supplied by a former policeman with an unregistered airsoft business who is advertising airsoft guns in jihadi magazines. The report of the ICG also state that "Several of the self-styled jihadis on Facebook also have links to airsoft sites, suggesting that some of those who have no opportunity to use the real thing may try to hone their military skills on these “'toys'".

Photo: Arms seized during a raid on a terrorist training camp in Aceh Province last 07 March. Source: Military Photos.

Fair enough, the only way for the Indonesian Airsoft Community to prevent a backlash is to continue self-policing themselves, as they have done in the past. There are already existing rules and regulations and an initiative from the community members would put airsoft in a positive light. However, blaming the local airsoft industry in the report would not be the answer to a growing problem of illicit arms, as airsoft in itself would not bring about a chaotic situation in which firearms would undermine social cohesion in such a large country such as Indonesia. The more worrying thing for the national government are the real firearms smuggling and leakages from the local arms manufacturers and the armed and police forces. Indonesia has the longest coastline in the world, and it is really tough to patrol and interdict smugglers around the islands.

At the end of the day, proper intelligence and police work coupled with an enforcement of existing rules and regulations would prevent such an increase in illicit arms trading and this I could agree with the recommendations of the ICG. It's also a heads-up to the Indonesian Airsoft Community to be on its toes again, as they may have become complacent as airsoft is a fast growing hobby in their country. The first thing they need to do is educate their members on the issues and laws and hope that some of their airsoft guns would not be used by extremist groups for training and criminals to bluff while doing their nefarious activities. They also need to start working on having airsoft recognized as a sport by the government, just like how their neighbors in the Philippines did.

Reading the airsoft portion report, just replace the name "Indonesia", remove some sentences, put in the name of another country that has a lively airsoft industry, then you'll find out that the problems of Indonesia with airsoft is also encounteredd by other countries. The US has an even more worrying situation with regards to use of airsoft in crimes. Just search googlenews and you'll be presented with news reported by local publications about airsoft used in such activities, and the Philippines is somewhere down the line.

You can read the full ICG report by clicking here.