VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD met with Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman at the former’s office in Jakarta on Tuesday to discuss security arrangements in Papua province.

Mahfud said the government has continued to hold dialogues to deal with various problems in Papua using welfare approaches, in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 9/2020 on accelerating welfare development in Papua and West Papua and Law No. 2/2021 on Papua’s special autonomy.

“We will use welfare approaches in which the government will focus its resources, including apparatuses, personnel, and funds, on developing welfare in a collaborative and comprehensive manner in accordance with the Presidential instruction," Mahfud said following the meeting with Abdurachman.

The meeting was also attended by Commander of Cendrawasih Regional Military Command XVII, Major General Ignatius Yogo Triyono, and Commander of Kasuari Regional Military Command XVIII, Major General I Nyoman Cantiasa.

The government will also continue to prioritize dialogue in order to develop Papua, Mahfud informed.

He reiterated that Papua is a part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) like other parts of the country.

"Some say that we must hold dialogues with the people of Papua. We will continue to hold (such) dialogues. As the public sees, we continue to hold dialogues. I invite them to come here to hold dialogues with customary chiefs, academics, religious leaders, and youth organization chiefs. We will continue to prioritize dialogues to build Papua," he said in a press statement on Tuesday.

The security agencies have identified areas in Papua where armed criminal groups (KKB) are still operating, he added.

“We have been mapping areas which are rather 'hot'. Only certain areas are rather 'hot' and their residents have not changed. Don’t waste a lot of energy going there. We develop Papua as a brother. Papua is our brother not KKB. Papua is our brother like those from Java, Sumatra, Bugis, Aceh so we treat them the same as part of NKRI,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, General Dudung said he is ready to support the program that President Joko Widodo has launched by preparing personnel to perform operational tasks.

Dudung said the task of developing personnel lies with the Army Chief of Staff, while operational tasks are conducted in accordance with TNI chief General Andika Perkasa’s directives. (Antaranews)