TNI AD Apologizes For The Case Of Soldiers Persecuting Residents Put In Drums In Papua

Kadispenad Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi at Denma TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, Monday (25/3/2024). (ANTARA/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi)

JAKARTA - The Army Chief of Staff represented by the Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi apologized for the violence in Papua some time ago, whose video recordings were spread on social media.

Kristomei said the actions taken by soldiers from the 300/Bjw Infantry Battalion (Yonif) would be used as evaluation and internal introspection within the Indonesian Army.

Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak has ordered the ranks of the Indonesian Army Military Police to investigate the soldier.

"The Army Military Police, assisted by Pomdam III/Siliwangia, are conducting an investigation into the connection between the elements of TNI soldiers who were directly involved in this act of violence," Kristomei said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 25.

He also emphasized that the Indonesian Army did not justify acts of violence during the interrogation process and had to adhere to regulations so that the act of violence was a violation of the law.

"The Indonesian Army has provided its soldiers with SOP (standard operating procedures), route of engagement, military law, in the context of carrying out tasks and operations in the field," he said.

With this incident, Kadispenad stated that the soldier had tarnished the good name of the Indonesian Army.

According to him, the Indonesian Army will also investigate the chain of command that occurred in this case.

"Yonif 300 sebenarnya sudah bertugas kemarin selama sembilan bulan di Papua dan prestasinya cukup bagus. Bahkan, mereka mendapatkan penghargaan dari Suku Danidan mendapat penghargaan dari Bupati Puncak, tapi ini digamah," katanya.

Previously, the TNI had investigated the contents of the video containing footage of the abuse of a man suspected of being carried out by TNI soldiers in Papua.

The show, which has gone viral on social media in the past 24 hours, shows the actions of a number of men, one of whom is suspected to be soldiers, taking turns beating and molesting a man who is tied up and injured standing in a drum.

In the broadcast, one of the perpetrators is suspected of being a TNI soldier because he was wearing a T-shirt that might refer to the unit name, namely the Raider 300/Brajawijaya Infantry Battalion (Yonif). The writing "300" in golden yellow is clearly printed on the chest of a green TNI Army.