TNI Regarding The Issue Of Madi Hospital In Paniai Papua Closed By Officials: OPM Held Hoax

TNI soldiers exercise security and defense in Supadio, West Kalimantan. (Ist)

JAKARTA - Head of Information for the XVII/Cendrawasih Regional Military Command (Kapendam) Lt. Col. Infantry Candra Kurniawan confirmed the lie or hoax of the TNI-Polri news expelling patients and closing the emergency room of the Madi Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Paniai, Papua.

Kapendam assessed that the hoax was deliberately disseminated by the OPM separatist group to create a commotion. According to him, the joint TNI-Polri apparatus at Madi Hospital secured the health facility from the threat of OPM which is suspected of intending to burn the hospital.

"The news that spread was a hoax that was deliberately blown by OPM and its sympathizers. At this time, the TNI apparatus from the 527 Infantry Battalion (Yonif) helped carry out security at Madi Paniai Hospital, because there were complaints from the OPM gang community that they would burn the hospital," said Kapendam Cendrawasih when contacted in Jakarta, Sunday, May 26, confiscated by Antara.

He added that the presence of the joint TNI-Polri apparatus at Madi Paniai Hospital was also at the request of the medical team who was worried that their safety would be threatened by the OPM separatist group.

On the same occasion, Kapendam Cendrawasih also explained a number of misleading narratives on social media, including the issue of child patients being forced to look for a hospital, the door to the hospital closed by blocking, and a number of old photos circulated again with false narratives.

Information from the Cendrawasih Regional Military Command, Candra explained, had contacted the hospital directly and found out the truth of the videos and photos circulating on social media. Several explanations from the hospital, including the lock on the hospital door being damaged, so that the door was blocked so that medicines and medical equipment were not lost.

"Medical workers and the Madi Hospital denied the hoax news. In fact, confirming that RSUD employees closed the door by blocking it, for fear of drugs and medical devices being lost. Meanwhile, pediatric patients were transferred to Deiyai Hospital, because Madi Hospital did not have a pediatrician, "said Kapendam.

"So, now it is clear that the TNI has never expelled patients. The photo (which was circulating on social media) was an old incident, while at this time it is not like that. So, all of them are hoaxes that were deliberately exhaled by the OPM gang and sympathizers," continued Candra.

Several areas in Madi Village, Paniai, this week were targeted by OPM. The group burned several school buildings and dozens of kiosks in Madi Village, East Paniai District, Paniai Regency, Central Papua, Tuesday, May 21 evening.