Ira Guslina Sufa, Jakarta – Newly elected Papua governor elected on January 29 Lucas Enembe believes that adding military troops in Papua will not solve the security issues in the area.

Based on my experience, the more incoming troopers, the more welcome they'll get from [armed groups], said Lucas during a discussion entitled: The Expansion of Papua at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 26.

Lucas said repressive actions by the army would not settle security issues in Papua. The Indonesian National Army s (TNI) military operations have been unable to quell the armed group resistance.

One of the reasons is Papua's geographical landscape the island is mainly covered with dense forest, difficult for the TNI to navigate, but easily accessible for locals.

Additional army troops will also mean additional weapons. Lucas said that it would benefit the armed resistance because they can easily steal the weapons and add them to their inventory. Nature has trained them to conquer the terrain.