TNI's Vital Role in Advancing Welfare Development in Papua Amid Security Challenges

PAPUA - The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) play a crucial role in supporting the acceleration of welfare development in Papua, as mandated by Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2020. This directive outlines three core responsibilities for the TNI in the region: maintaining security, assisting local governments in providing essential public services, and fostering inclusive social communication with all stakeholders.

To implement this mandate, the TNI has deployed Military Task Forces across Papua to ensure stability, which is essential for development efforts to proceed unhindered. However, these efforts face ongoing security threats from the Free Papua Movement (OPM), whose acts of violence and intimidation against civilians and security forces continue to disrupt progress.

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One of the latest incidents underscoring this challenge was the brutal killing of Glen Malcolm Conning, a New Zealand pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, by the OPM on August 5, 2024. In response, the TNI swiftly secured the Alama region and evacuated victims, including health workers, teachers, and infants, purely as a humanitarian mission. “On August 6, without any prior request from the victim's family or the New Zealand government, the TNI took immediate action to secure and evacuate those in danger, ” stated Colonel Yogi Nugroho, Commander of the HABEMA Media Task Forces.

A similar humanitarian effort was demonstrated in the successful rescue of Captain Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot, from OPM captivity on September 21, 2024. These actions highlight the TNI’s unwavering commitment to ensuring peace and security in Papua, paving the way for sustainable development.

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"The TNI and Polri remain steadfast in their duty to maintain security in Papua, ensuring the region remains safe, conducive, and free from threats that hinder development, ” Colonel Yogi emphasized.

Through continuous security operations and strategic partnerships, the TNI reaffirms its dedication to supporting the Indonesian government's mission to accelerate welfare development in Papua.

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Authentication:
Commander of HABEMA Media Task Forces,
Colonel Arh Yogi Nugroho