TNI Commander Discusses Security In Central Sulawesi, Governor Asks Residents To Ignore US Travel Warnings

Illustration of the Madago Raya Task Force conducting a search and hunting for the remaining DPO MIT Poso in the area of operation of Madago Raya. (ANTARA/Kristina N)

SULTENG - TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa held a limited meeting with the Provincial Government of Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) at the Central Sulawesi Governor's Office, in Palu, Thursday 12 May.

The Commander of the 132/Tadulako Military Resort Command, Brigadier General Toto Nurwanto, said the meeting discussed a number of central issues, including the security of the Central Sulawesi region.

"Today to the Governor, after the meeting here, we will have a meeting with the Head of the Central Sulawesi Police and we will announce the results tomorrow," Toto said in Palu on Thursday, May 12. The Governor of Central Sulawesi, Rusdy Mastura, said that one of the agenda items for discussion with the Commander The TNI is a matter of security and order in the local area which is still focused on the implementation of Operation Madago Raya. "We hope that Operation Madago Raya can crush the movement on behalf of the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) in Poso," said Mastura. The United States (US) towards its citizens does not need to be exaggerated because the current situation and conditions in Central Sulawesi are very conducive.

The US is known to issue travel warnings or travel notes for its citizens to Central Sulawesi. The warning addressed to Papua was also issued by the US State Department on April 25.

According to Mastura, this is reflected in a number of big agendas that will take place in this province in the near future, including the Lake Poso festival which will be national in nature.

He is confident that the TNI-Polri will immediately resolve security issues that have been considered to hinder regional economic development. "Because there (Poso) there is only one person left. We will wait a few days for news of this operation to be completed," he said. Perkasa arrived in Palu at around 14.00 WITA using the Indonesian Air Force's VIP transport plane at Mutiara SIS Aldjufri Airport, Palu. During this visit, he held a limited meeting with Mastura, then he will continue his internal meeting with the Central Sulawesi Police. Next, Friday (13/5), he will take a closer look at the tactical command post of the Madago Raya Operations Task Force in Poso Regency.