Pangkogabwilhan III: Soldiers At The RI-Papua New Guinea Border Must Be Alert

Pangkogabwilhan III Lt. Gen. Richard Tampubolon. (ANTARA/HO/Kogabwilhan III)

JAKARTA - Pangkogabwilhan III Lt. Gen. Richard TH Tampubolon asked special assignment unit soldiers who are members of the RI-Papua New Guinea security task force to always increase vigilance at the border, after the riots at PNG.

"An increase in vigilance needs to be done to anticipate the impact of the riots that occurred in Papua New Guinea (PNG) some time ago," said Pangkogabwilhan III Lt. Gen. Richard Tampubolon in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, January 13.

He has requested that battalions serving on the RI-PNG border, apart from being vigilant, also increase defense and security.

"With the riots in PNG," said Pangkogabwilhan III,

do not rule out the possibility of affecting the defense and security situation on the RI-PNG border.

"We need to anticipate the riots that occurred at PNG, do not let them affect and disrupt the security situation at the border, the soldiers guarding the border must be more vigilant, related to cross-border, the exodus of the PNG community, the smuggling of firearms, drug smuggling, and other illegal acts," he said.

Separately, Indonesian Ambassador to Papua New Guinea (PNG) Andriana Supandi admitted that there were no Indonesian citizens, including Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), who were victims of riots at PNG.

The Indonesian Embassy is still monitoring the condition of Indonesian citizens, especially Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) after the riots that occurred in the country.

"Alhamdulillah, until Friday morning (12/1) no Indonesian citizens were victims," said Ambassador Andriana Supandi.