In Papua, TNI Commander Hadi Tjahjanto Gathered Religious Figures

A number of TNI soldiers carrying social assistance packages from the government to religious leaders in Papua and West Papua Provinces (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The TNI Commander Hadi Tjahjanto invited religious leaders in Papua and West Papua to socialize the COVID-19 vaccination plan. So that there is no rejection when vaccination is carried out.

"We invite religious leaders to assist the government in disseminating the vaccination plan, about the importance of being vaccinated, the importance of being injected, so that people consciously follow instructions from religious leaders," said Hadi Tjahjanto at the Suni Garden Lake Hotel, Sentani, Jayapura, Papua, reported by Antara, Friday, January 8.

The Commander explained that the vaccination program will be carried out in two stages.

He said the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine would be given to 1.3 million people and vaccine administration would prioritize health workers including members of the TNI and Polri.

"After that, the next stage is giving vaccines to the community in accordance with government planning through the Ministry of Health. However, while waiting and getting vaccines, I still remind you that health protocols must be implemented," said Hadi Tjahjanto.

Meanwhile, Head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police's Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Pol Rusdi Hartono, told reporters in Sentani, Jayapura that the National Police was ready to work together with the TNI to secure vaccines to remote areas.

"Until later the vaccination activities will be carried out at each vaccination point, there will definitely be members of the TNI and Polri," said Rusdi who was accompanying the activities of the Police General Supervision Inspector (Irwasum) Polri Komjen Pol Agung Budi Maryoto in Jayapura.

The TNI Commander and Irwasum Polri arrived at Silas Papare Air Base in Jayapura, Papua, from Sultan Hasanuddin Air Base in Makassar, South Sulawesi, at around 13.30 WIT using a Boeing 737-400 aircraft with registration number A-7305.

This Indonesian Air Force transport plane previously departed from Halim Perdanakusumah TNI AU Base Jakarta on Thursday (7/1) and transited in Makassar for one night.

After the event in Sentani, the TNI Commander and the Police Inspectorate continued to fly to Timika, Papua, to attend activities with TNI soldiers.