Commander: TNI Prioritizes Territorial Operations To Face KKB In Papua

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto. (ANTARA/Evarukdijati)

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto emphasized that his party prioritized territorial operations with intelligence and also used a hard approach in dealing with armed criminal groups or KKB in Papua.

According to the Commander, the use of the hard approach was carried out when the KKB used weapons so it had to be fought with weapons and it was the last action to be used.

"I and the National Police Chief have received exposure from the Papuan Police Chief and the XVII Cenderawasih Military Commander regarding conditions in Papua," said TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, December 8.

Agus said that the hard approach was the last step that would be taken because the TNI actually prioritized the soft approach, namely through territorial operations.

"Through territorial operations, it is hoped that development in Papua will accelerate, considering that this area is given a very high budget, but there is still a social gap in society," he said.

The existence of the TNI in Papua is to assist government programs aimed at improving the welfare of the community.

"The TNI will collaborate with other agencies, such as the National Police and other ministries and agencies to handle this," said TNI General Agus Subiyanto accompanied by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

The TNI Commander explained that his party will help build afood estate in Manokwari, West Papua, which is a program from the Ministry of PUPR.

"TNI soldiers will be deployed to assist the implementation of the program," said General Agus Subiyanto.

The TNI Commander and the National Police Chief during their working visit released the distribution of 2,500 food packages for residents of Jayapura City.

The Papua Regional Police and the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command currently oversee four provinces, namely Papua, Papua Mountains, South Papua, and Central Papua.