Not For War, 400 TNI Soldiers Sent To Nduga Papua Mountains Replace Personnel After Their Task Period

Illustration of the Madago Raya Task Force from the TNI-Polri conducting a search to hunt down the remaining MIT Poso DPOs. (ANTARA-Kristina N)

The Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command (Kodam) Major General Izak Pangemanan emphasized that the shipment of TNI soldiers to Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains, was not for war.

As many as 400 personnel from Battalion Battalion RK 751/VJS were sent to replace Task Force Yonif Raider 321/GT Kostrad which had completed its term of duty.

"The soldiers sent were not to attack the Armed Criminal Group (KKB), but to assist local governments in repatriating refugee communities and accelerating development in the area," said the Pangdam in Jayapura, Papua, Thursday, June 15, as reported by Antara.

According to him, the 400 personnel will later occupy posts ranging from Mbua, Dal, Yig, Yal, Mugi, and Mapenduma districts in Nduga Regency.

"To soldiers who will occupy the post to always help the local community to have a better future and be served well," he said.

The Military Commander emphasized that the presence of TNI soldiers to assist development in Nduga Regency, which is now hampered, could return to running, not to attack and spill KKB blood.

"However, if the soldiers are attacked, they must give their full resistance, they must not hesitate because I do not want any soldiers to become victims," he asserted.

According to Izak, sovereignty in Papua is recognized and respected by all sovereign countries and Indonesia so that this area must be maintained because it is Indonesian territory.

"We have met the refugees and they want to come back because since the incident, people are afraid to become victims if there is no TNI," said the Pangdam.

He added that his party placed posts to secure road construction in order to provide solutions for the welfare of the community.

Previously, the Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Maj. Gen. Izak Pangemanan, led the release and examination ceremony for the readiness of the RK 751/VJS Yonif unit operation at Mayonif Field RK 751/VJS Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Wednesday, June 14.