The task force personnel initiated the community service for the villagers in Mannem District, Keerom Regency, Papua, to join the Christmas celebration with them, he said. Keerom Regency is located south of Papua's capital Jayapura.
"Through this community service, we hopefully bring happiness to the residents who will celebrate Christmas. We also hope that what we do will make us get closer to locals," he said in his press statement as reported by Antara.
In response to this community service, Levanus Kombat (54), the village's community leader, was quoted as thanking the soldiers for having "brought happiness" to the villagers ahead of the celebration of Christmas.
State-owned news agency Antara reported earlier that Indonesian National Military (TNI) soldiers in the Papua region are required to multitask amid the government's incessant efforts to bridge the development gap between provinces in the region and other provinces. The soldiers deployed are required to be responsive in seeking solutions to problems and challenges faced by Papuan communities in their daily lives. They are also expected to play the role of problem solvers for local communities amid their central task to defend the country's territorial integrity and guard the safety of Indonesians.
Despite the security-related challenges, Antara reported that soldiers have actively engaged in community service activities, highlighting their commitment to supporting local populations. Several personnel of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force have been assisting locals through community services such as voluntary teaching, mobile libraries, and street cleanup programs. (Antara)
