Komnas HAM Commissioner Hopes To Meet With Commander-in-Chief General Andika Before Flying To Papua

TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa when meeting with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Syarifuddin (Photo via Puspen TNI)

JAKARTA - Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Choirul Anam, asked the TNI (Army) Commander, General Andika Perkasa, to hold a meeting with Komnas HAM before leaving for Papua. This was done to discuss the new approach that Andika promised.

"It would be better and the maximum if we could also meet with Komnas HAM before submitting it there", Anam told reporters as quoted on Saturday, November 27.

With this meeting, Anam said Andika could see records belonging to Komnas HAM regarding rights violations that occurred in Papua. So that in the future, the former Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) will be able to understand the management of conflicts and tensions that often occur.

Moreover, Andika is the new TNI Commander, so he needs to learn many things related to Papua.

"Before going to Papua, before presenting the concept, ask Komnas HAM for input. This is a good step. Because there may be aspects that the TNI Commander cannot imagine", he said.

"Who knows, there is something good, which can also be used by military friends, for military friends, which is called a new approach. At least it's like avoiding stigma, avoiding suspicion. It may be a cliché but the facts are many", Anam added.

As previously reported, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, said the TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa had a new approach to Papua. However, this was not specified by Mahfud.

Meanwhile, Andika said that the TNI would still use the legal basis that had been issued by the government to deal with problems in Papua. However, he did not want to go into more detail and chose to explain it during his visit to Papua.

"I use the legal basis that has been issued by the government and I will explain it in detail when I am in Papua next week", Andika said after a closed meeting with Mahfud MD at the Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs office, Thursday, November 25.