Jokowi calls for TNI/Polri to monitor every event in Papua

Jakarta, VIVA – President Joko Widodo stressed and called for any infrastructure development activities in the Papua region to be accompanied by security forces.

“In any activity in Papua, I always insist that the security forces be accompanied,” the president said during a press statement at Merdeka Palace Square, Jakarta, Saturday, September 21, 2024.

The Head of State cited as an example the escort of security forces, for example, during the construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure facilities.

The president also asked that planes carrying people and logistics operating in the Papua region be escorted by security forces.

“When building road infrastructure, bridges or pilots that transport logistics to Nduga, Wamena and Panchak, everything must be protected by the TNI and the police for security reasons,” the president said.

Hoping, the president said, that the incident of the hostage-taking of the “Susi Air” pilot, Captain Philip Mark Martens, by the Free Papua Organization (FPO)/armed criminal group (KGB) will not happen again.

“The authorities should also be involved in the construction of the bridge, so that everything goes smoothly and there are no more hostage-taking incidents,” the president said.

Pilot Philip Mark Martens was finally released after a year and a half of being held hostage by the OPM/KKB.

Operation Kartens 2024 Commander General Faisal Ramadhani stressed that Task Force Kartens 2024 has so far prioritized soft approaches rather than hard approaches in the effort to free the Philip pilots.

“Yes, it is true, we are prioritising outreach through religious, ecclesiastical, traditional figures and close family members of Egianus Kogoya,” Faizal said in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

He said this approach is important to reduce casualties among officers and civilians, while ensuring the safety of pilot Felipe. (ant)