Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – There is no need for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to set a territorial command in West Papua, says the Papua Parliamentary Caucus.

"Establishing a new military command in West Papua is not urgent. What is urgent is how to improve the wellbeing of Papuans," said caucus activist and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member, Paulus Sumino on Monday, in Jayapura, Papua.

He said that should the military command be intended to provide security for people, the government should not necessarily develop the military base, but should instead ensure that Papauns were empowered.

The government should also strengthen the role of the police and its intelligence capacity, he added.

Most importantly, Paulus said, is that the government should improve the quality of the existing Cendrawasih military command and the welfare of its personnel so they could carry out their jobs more professionally.

"I have seen that many soldiers assigned to remote areas are living in bad shape. So it's better to reallocate the funds for the establishment of a new military command to improve the welfare of the troops," he added

Earlier this month, newly inaugurated Army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. George Toisutta, said the TNI would set up two new military commands in West Kalimantan and West Papua in an apparent bid to revitalize its much-criticized territorial function.

The move was part of the military's tireless efforts to maintain state sovereignty over its large territory and "prevent any infiltration by foreign enemies", he argued.

"Should the government press ahead with its plan for a new military command in Papua, it will face resistance from the public, because it will just reopen old wounds resulting from military operations in Papua," said Julees Rimet Assa Ongge, a local human rights activist.

He called on the legislative councils in Papua and West Papua to oppose the new military command.