Discussing Papua's Security, Defense Minister: We Want To Win The Heart Of The People Who Don't Have The Same With The Unitary State Of The Republic Of Indonesia

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (center)/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroo-VOI

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin together with the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto and the chief staff of the force attended a closed meeting with Commission I of the DPR. During the meeting, the Minister of Defense alluded to the security conditions in Papua.

"That's right (discussing Papua), that in order to support national stability so that this development can run safely and smoothly, we have received instructions from the President, both as head of state and as head of government," said Defense Minister Sjafrie during a press conference at the DPR building, Monday, November 24.

The Minister of Defense said that his party had determined three centers of gravity that must be guaranteed safety factors in order to support activities, both social activities and economic and development activities.

"Where the three gravity centers are: the first is Jakarta itself, we secure Jakarta from 360 degrees, both from coastal security and air security and on land security. Then the second is Aceh, because this is the western part of our area. Then the third gravity center is Papua," he explained.

Sjafrie said the Ministry of Defense and the TNI would place troops in Papua and implement a method called smart approach. Where between the soft approach (territorial approach) and the hard approach, tactical operations are combined.

"So that we want to win the hearts of the people so that those who still don't have one common opinion about the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, we invite them together," he said.

However, continued Sjafrie, in order to maintain sovereignty, the government does not want the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia to be trampled on by foreigners.

"So we still have to be prepared and continue to be aware of possible tactical threats that can disrupt the security and smooth social life of the community as well as development activities in Papua," he concluded.