Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto revealed that he received the task of handling the Papua conflict from President Joko Widodo. According to him, this protracted conflict must be resolved in an unusual way.
“Yes, when I faced him (Jokowi), his instructions were to carry out the main tasks, collaborate with the National Police and all elements of society regarding handling Papua,” said Agus after the inauguration at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (22/11/2023).
According to him, Papua has its own regional and cultural characteristics. So to resolve a conflict you have to understand it first.
“I have said that we will use smart power which consists of soft power and will prioritize intelligence and territory,” said Agus.
Even so, he did not deny that hard power was still needed to fight armed combatants.
“The opponents use weapons, but we prioritize soft power, armed forts, political fronts, clandestine fronts,” said Agus.
Apart from that, regarding the handling of Susi Air pilot Philip Mertens’ hostage-taking, according to Agus, the resolution was carried out through military-diplomatic politics.
“We will involve Forkopimda there for communication, communication, that’s all. That’s why in the future we will prioritize territorial operations,” he said.
“Hopefully with this step there will be news. Hopefully brother Philip Mehrtens will be there. Anyway, we will continue, we will continue to increase territorial operations in order to improve the welfare of the people there,” he continued.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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