TNI Commander: Main Operation Territorial Development At Kodam XIII/Merdeka

JAKARTA - The Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, General TNI Andika Perkasa, emphasized that territorial development is the main operation in the Regional Military Command (Kodam) XIII/Merdeka area which oversees the Provinces of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and North Sulawesi.

"So the bottom line is geography, demography, and communication with social conditions, but the main thing is territorial development," said the Commander during a meeting with Pangdam XIII/Merdeka as broadcast on General TNI Andika Perkasa's Youtube channel, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 16.

During the virtual meeting, the Regional Military Commander (Pangdam) XIII/Merdeka Maj. Gen. Alfred Denny Tuejeh conveyed the concept of changing operations, especially in conflict areas such as Poso, Central Sulawesi.

In addition, the TNI Commander conveyed that Kodam XIII/Merdeka prioritized security operations on the outer islands by 2022. Several islands, including Miangas Island in North Sulawesi, are located in the border area of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Regarding the operation in Poso, Alfred said that his party no longer prioritized combat operations but prioritized territorial development and communication with the local community.

Thus, the guard posts of the Madago Raya Task Force in Poso, which initially supported combat operations, are now part of the military district command (koramil).

Pangdam XIII/Merdeka explained that there are at least 40 guard posts of the Madago Raya Task Force under the auspices of the TNI and Polri.

Later, he said, TNI guard posts would become Koramil posts.

"According to the direction of the (Commander) we will form 12 posts with 20 people in each task force post. Then, we will convey our duties according to your direction, we will carry out the duties of the Koramil, namely territorial development, "explained Alfred.

The Madago Raya Task Force, which is a Joint Team of the TNI and Polri, was formed on January 1, 2021, to arrest the top leader of the terrorist group Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) Ali Kalora.

Ali Kalora was found dead in September 2021 after he and his members exchanged fire with the Greater Madago Task Force in the Mountains of Astina Village, Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi.

So far, there are four MIT members under Ali Kalora who are still on the wanted list (DPO), namely Askar alias Jaid alias Pak Guru, Muhklas alias Galuh alias Nae, Ahmad Gazali alias Ahmad Panjang, and Suhardin alias Hasan Pranata.