Security Forces Intensify Patrols Ahead of Election, Anticipating KST Papua Maneuvers
By: Marcellino Angel Krey )*
The security forces of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) continue to intensify patrols, especially ahead of the 2024 General Election (Pemilu) like now. The patrol carried out had the main objective, namely anticipating how maneuvers would be carried out by the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) so as not to disrupt the conducive course of the implementation of the democratic party.
Security forces from joint personnel consisting of the Indonesian National Army (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) continue to carry out patrols in several areas in Bumi Cenderawasih, especially in areas that are still considered vulnerable to attacks. or KST disturbances such as in the Papua Mountains region.
This joint patrol was carried out to anticipate possible or potential disturbances to security and public order (kamtibmas) ahead of the 2024 elections carried out by groups like these.
In this joint patrol, it was led directly by the Head of the Resort Police (Kapolres) Lanny Jaya, Adjunct Police Commissioner (AKBP) Umar Nasatekay and also involved as many as one hundred soldiers from joint TNI and Polri personnel. For the patrol routes themselves, especially in several areas that are considered to have the potential for disruption by KST Papua.
Regarding this matter, AKBP Umar said that the patrols carried out by the security forces were indeed a form of readiness on the part of the TNI and Polri to face the upcoming General Elections and also escort from the security forces to fully support the implementation of peaceful elections.
Not only did they carry out election security, but the security forces also carried out these patrols as their concrete form of anticipating any disturbances in security and order in society (kamtibmas), especially in areas that are still considered vulnerable to KST Papua attacks.
Therefore, all parties should be able to continue to join hands in maintaining the situation and conditions in society so that it remains safe and conducive. It cannot be denied that all of these parties equally have their own important roles in maintaining security, so that regarding the security sector it is absolutely impossible to leave this matter only to TNI and Polri personnel, but all parties have an important role because security is one of the important keys to being able to advance a region, including Papua.
Meanwhile, the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, said that the patrol mechanism carried out by the joint security forces in the Papua conflict area will also be equipped with the use of sophisticated equipment, one of which is through monitoring from drones.
For him, the use of drones at several points that were considered vulnerable was deliberately done to minimize casualties from the security forces themselves. If, for example, the area visited by the drone can be confirmed to be safe and sterile, then new personnel will then be deployed to provide security at that location from threats from KST Papua.
So now, patrols are not carried out using the old method, namely going straight into the interior up to 10 or 20 kilometers (Km), but the security forces now use advanced technology by utilizing drones. The use of this technology is also a concrete form of how the nation’s security continues to progress and renew in accordance with current era and technological developments.
Various kinds of intelligence operations will also continue to be intensified on Earth of Cenderawasih. The approaches taken by security forces will also vary, but in general the main approach put forward is a humanist or soft approach. However, if it turns out that there is resistance by KST Papua, then this approach will change to a hard approach as a last resort step.
On the other hand, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) through the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs also continues to make efforts to monitor and prevent various kinds of potential risks of disruption in the implementation of the 2024 Elections carried out by KST Papua. This monitoring is carried out by security forces in collaboration with the election organizers, namely the General Election Commission (KPU).
Deputy for Political Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of the Interior, Major General (Mayjen) TNI Heri Wiranto, revealed that one of the things that continues to be monitored is the development of the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST). Therefore, the government then included the potential for interference from KST as one of the vulnerabilities in holding democratic parties in the country.
Intensifying patrols is indeed a very important thing to do, especially to be able to anticipate maneuvers carried out by KST Papua in all their movements and efforts to disrupt security in the election process. The implementation of the Democratic Party should be able to run smoothly, safely and peacefully without interference from any party.
)* Papuan Students Live in Surabaya
