The Policy Of The TNI Commander To Rotate Troops In Papua Is Appropriate

The evacuation process for soldiers victims of the KKB shooting in Mugi, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains. (Between/HO/Personal Documents)

JAKARTA - Military observer from the Institute for Security & Strategic Studies (ISSES) Khairul Fahmi assessed that the policy of the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono to rotate the troops on duty in Papua was the right step.

The ISSES Executive Director explained that troop rotation could minimize potential for corruption, and negligence, due to vigilance that began to decline if the assignment period was too long.

Concern Panglima kemarin itu tidak ada penambahan pasukan, hanya penggantian pasukan, itu saya sepakat, karena pergantian ini yang lebih penting," kata Khairul Fahmi saat dihubungi Antara di Jakarta, Kamis.

He added that the average task force placed in Papua, including the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) Raider 321/Galul Taruna, was almost 1 year. According to Fahmi, the term of duty is still too long.

In my opinion, the duration is too long. It must be shorter so that they remain vigilant, minimize the potential for carelessness because they are not alert, because they feel they are familiar with the terrain, understand the situation so that there is a tendency to be negligent," said the Executive Director of ISSES.

He assessed the ideal term of service for 6 months.

"I think 6 months should be replaced, so they remain in good moral and psychological condition. They departed in prime condition, went home in excellent condition," said Khairul Fahmi.

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono in Papua, Tuesday (18/4), announced plans to rotate troops stationed in Papua, especially after the incident of TNI troops being attacked by armed criminal groups (KKB) or terrorist separatist groups (KST) in Mugi-man, Nduga, Sunday (15/4).

"Of course, troops who have been on duty for a long time may have their morale dropped, so we will replace it with a new one," said Admiral Yudo.

A total of 36 TNI soldiers searched the Mugi-man area, Nduga, Papua, to look for the Susi Air Pilot, Phillip Mehrtens, who has been held hostage by the KKB since February 2023. In the midst of sweeping the area, the KKB blocked and attacked TNI soldiers.

As a result of the KKB attack in Nduga, four soldiers died, and four others were injured. The four soldiers who died were Pratu Miftahul Arifin, Pratu Ibrahim, Pratu Kurniawan and Prada Sukra.

Their bodies were found on Wednesday (19/4), by the Joint Team of the TNI and Polri, and the four bodies have been evacuated from Nduga to Timika Hospital, Mimika, Papua.