TNI’s Task To Support The Acceleration Of Welfare Development In Papua

PAPUA - The Presidential Instruction of the Republic of Indonesia Number 9 of 2020 concerning the Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua is the legal basis for implementing the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) tasks in the Papua region. In the Presidential Instruction, TNI must implement three tasks: security support, supporting the Regional Government in providing essential services for the community and conducting inclusive Social Communication with all stakeholders in Papua.

Under the legal basis, the TNI has sent Military Task Forces to Papua to accelerate welfare development in Papua. A stable and conducive security situation is the main priority that must be implemented in Papua so that all stakeholders and Papuan residents can conduct their activities and roles properly in developing the Papua. This is important considering the ongoing security disturbances by the Free Papua Movement Organization (OPM), which still often occur in the Papua region. The OPM security disturbance certainly constrains the acceleration of welfare development in Papua.

Many security disturbances have been carried out by the OPM, both intimidation and violence against unarmed civilians, rape, and even murder are also often carried out, both against unarmed civilians and the TNI-Polri Security Forces. The OPM murdered Glen Malcolm Conning, a New Zealand citizen who is also a Helicopter Pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, on Monday (5/8/2024).

It is a series of OPM crimes that have disrupted security and impacted the development process in Papua. "The facts on the ground show that on Tuesday (6/8), the TNI succeeded in securing Alama and evacuating the bodies of Pilot Glen, Health Workers, Teachers, and some babies without any prior request, either from the victim's family or the New Zealand Government, but was purely a form of humanitarian action, " said Commander of the HABEMA Media Task Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Yogi Nugroho, in his written statement to the Press. A similar thing was also done in the successful release of the Susi Air Pilot hostage, Captain Pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens, on Saturday (21/9/2024). The release of Captain Pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens is an implementation of the TNI's humanitarian action with all stakeholders to achieve a safe and peaceful Papua.

LtCol Yogi added, "The TNI and Polri Security Forces continue to conduct tasks in the Papua region so that Papua remains safe, conducive, and free from security disturbances by the OPM. The tasks in the Papua region are to implement the TNI and Polri's support for the Indonesian Government's program to accelerate the welfare development in Papua.”

Autentikasi: 
Dansatgas Media HABEMA, Letkol Arh Yogi Nugroho