TNI Commander: Unlike In The Past, Patrols In Papua Now Use Drones

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto with National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo at Police Headquarters/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto said his party used drones to monitor the situation in the Papua region. The use of this technology is also considered more effective.

"Our technology already uses drones there. So for patrols, we are no longer like we used to enter the interior up to 10-20 kilometers," Agus told reporters at the National Police Headquarters, Tuesday, December 5.

The use of drone technology is also in the early stages of patrols. This means that when they find areas that are considered vulnerable, drones will be flown to ensure the situation.

If the results of the search using drones are declared safe, then the soldiers patrolling will enter the area.

"Now we use drones if they are safe then we enter," he said.

Not only patrolling, drones can also be used in other situations. Natural disasters, for example. Rescue teams can use the technology to map the presence of victims.

"Drones, in addition to being used for operations, can also be used to deal with natural disasters such as the search for victims, we are now using drones. Of course with different specifications, yes, there are low to high specs," said Agus.

Previously, Agus said that he would apply the concept of soft power to overcome problems in Papua, especially from armed criminal groups (KKB).

According to him, the concept of soft power means staying afloat but active.

"Papua, we already have a smart power. So use soft power too, hard power is the last way, like if we have soft power, we will create an active defense concept, yes, we will survive but be active," said Agus.

However, no further details were given about the concept of persisting but being active. Agus only said that the TNI would also prioritize intelligence territorial operations to deal with KKB.

By implementing these concepts and operations, it is hoped that they will know the whereabouts of the KKB. Thus, no more soldiers are victims.

"Then what we put forward is the intelligence territorial operation, for Papua. We will use the last hard power. As now we have been attacked, yes, we, because he is a commander, we also use weapons," said Agus.