Army Chief Of Staff Receives Report Of 5 Papuan Regions Prone To Security For The 2024 Election

JAKARTA - Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Agus Subiyanto received reports from the ranks of military regional commanders, including reports from Pangdam XVII/Cendrawasih Maj. Gen. Izak Pangemanan regarding five areas in Papua that are still vulnerable in securing the 2024 General Election.

Five areas that Izak reported to Agus via video conference (vicon) connection, namely Yahukimo (Papuan Mountains Province), Bintang Mountains (Papua Mountains), Nduga (Papua Mountains), Intan Jaya (Central Papua), and Puncak (Central Papua).

"We will hold all the strength of the troops. We focus on areas that will indeed be prone to disturbances," Izak told Kasad during the ceremony to Hold the TNI-Polri Election Security Forces at the National Monument, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 8.

In the same report, the Cendrawasih Military Commander also conveyed that 89 defense equipment units were also deployed in vulnerable areas to anticipate attacks by terrorist separatist groups (KST) that could disrupt the general election in Papua.

"For areas that are still prone to KST, we have placed steel rantis cars ready to support in the event of a disturbance," said Izak.

The Army Chief of Staff then responded to the report and reminded the Cendrawasih Military Commander to hold security according to the classification of vulnerabilities ranging from areas that are considered the most vulnerable (black codes) to those deemed safe (white).

Agus also instructed the Cendrawasih Military Commander to take advantage of the organic troops, namely those who are currently tasked with carrying out security operations in Papua.

"Keep coordinating with the elements of the National Police and all Forkopimda elements (regional leadership coordination forum) and all elements of society there, youth leaders, religious leaders, community leaders. All are invited to sit together so that the peace elections in Papua can be carried out properly," said the Army Chief of Staff giving instructions to the Cendrawasih Military Commander.

The Indonesian Army deployed a total of 115,000 soldiers to help the National Police secure elections in all regions in the country. In Papua, 1,904 personnel were deployed to secure elections in 5,301 villages. In those thousands of villages, a total of 280,161 polling stations (TPS).

According to the Cendrawasih Military Commander, the number of personnel deployed to secure the election is still lacking. Therefore, Kodam XVII/Cendrawasih involved the task force (task force).

"A total of 6,875 people from the task force, so that a total of the troops we will involve are approximately 8,000 people," said Izak to the Army Chief of Staff.