Antara News·Indonesia·Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 10:19 AM

TNI Chief urges inter-agency collaboration to address Papua conflict

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Nadia Putri Rahmani, Yashinta Difa

I believe resolving the situation in Papua cannot be done by the TNI alone..

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto called for comprehensive collaboration among the military, government ministries, national agencies, and regional administrations to address ongoing conflict and security challenges in Papua.

“I believe resolving the situation in Papua cannot be done by the TNI alone; everyone must collaborate—local governments and ministries alike,” Agus told reporters in Jakarta on Sunday.

The military chief noted that inter-agency support and cross-sector cooperation are essential to strengthen operations on the ground, particularly given Papua’s vast territory and challenging mountainous terrain.

The commander’s remarks follow recent security incidents in the region, including the killing of a commercial shuttle driver in Highland Papua.

The victim, Aris Sanda—also known as Bapak Tasya—was a native of Toraja who was found dead near his burned-out vehicle in the Lake Habema area.

The TNI Habema Operations Command identified an armed group affiliated with the Free Papua Movement (OPM)—specifically the Ndugama Regional Defense Command (Kodap) III—as the perpetrators of the attack.

Head of Information for the TNI Habema Operations Command Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Wirya Arthadiguna said Sanda was transporting passengers in a pickup truck when the armed group intercepted the vehicle.

The group questioned the driver and passengers before ordering the passengers to return to Wamena. Sanda was detained and forcibly taken toward Lake Habema.

Following reports of the interception, joint personnel from the TNI Habema Operations Command conducted a search of the area on Wednesday (September 16), subsequently locating the victim’s body alongside the burned-out pickup truck.

Wirya confirmed that military personnel are actively pursuing the perpetrators and strengthening security measures across the region to protect local residents.

“The TNI Habema Operations Command will continue efforts to address the armed group involved, including pursuing the perpetrators and supporting law enforcement processes in accordance with applicable regulations, in order to prevent further casualties and ensure public safety,” he stated.

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