Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto said that his institution would establish psychological and territorial operations in Papua in a bid to engage the locals to be familiar and have no fear of the TNI officers.

Hadi explained the operations would be carried out to lessen the combat operation as to reduce the number of victims.

"Thus, a possible strategy is a community approach and showing them that their wishes will be fulfilled as long as they against separation from NKRI (the Unitary State of Indonesia)," said Hadi in a written statement, Thursday, January 31.

Hadi made the statement in companion with TNI Army Force Chief of Staff Gen. Andika Perkasa, TNI Navy Force Chief of Staff Admiral Siwi Sukma Adji, and TNI Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Yuyu Sutisna after the 2019 TNI leader meeting in GOR Ahmad Yani, TNI headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

Hadi explained that TNI would fulfill their hopes, which is local employment for Trans Papua construction project, and would discuss the matter with the local heads. "We have coordinated it with PUPR and SOE Ministries to actualize their demand," he added.

As reported earlier, a total of 28 workers of Trans Papua were brutally killed by armed groups KKB led by Egianus Kogoya in Nduga, December 2, 2018. The incident prompted trauma in the community.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1171055/tni-to-hold-psychological-territorial-operations-in-papua