By: Martha Murib*
The presence of the state in the interior of Papua increasingly shows the government’s real commitment to ensuring a sense of security and providing services to the community evenly. Through synergy between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), efforts to protect and provide public services in areas that were previously difficult to reach can now be felt directly by residents. This strategy emphasizes that the development of Papua initiated by the government does not only focus on the infrastructure aspect, but also really touches on the social and humanitarian dimensions for the sake of justice and equitable development throughout the archipelago.
One concrete example of the presence of this state can be seen in Oksop District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency. The area, which is located about 30 kilometers from the center of Oksibil government, faces serious challenges in terms of accessibility. Three main connecting bridges that are vital logistics routes from Serambakon to Oksop were severely damaged, making the land route unusable. “However, the state responded quickly to this condition to ensure that the community still has access to basic needs and basic services, including health and education.
In response to this condition, the government through the Yonif 751/VJS Task Force with the support of the National Police took quick and measured steps. Logistics and health services were deployed by air using military helicopters. The distribution of this aid went directly to the TNI Post in Oksop Village, which then became the distribution center for basic necessities and a health service post for the community. In an emergency situation like this, the TNI-Polri proved their capacity as the spearhead of the state that is ready to be present wherever the people need it.
The response given by the security forces received a positive response from the local community. The community showed enthusiasm and collaborative spirit, working together with the authorities in distributing aid as a form of trust in the state. The community leader of Oksop District, Forban Kalakmabin, said that the presence of state officials rekindled the spirit of the community to return to their hometown. He also considered that residents felt safer and more optimistic in living their daily lives because there was a guarantee of protection and service from the state.
Something similar happened in the Mayuberi area, Puncak Regency. The emergency situation that had been going on for years has now been successfully resolved with a responsive and caring approach by the state through the TNI, making the TNI Post a reliable health service center in the area. Since the Puskesmas was built in 2019, there had never been a single health worker who came to provide services. However, now, with the presence of the TNI Post in Mayuberi, residents have a place they can rely on to seek treatment and consult about their health. The Head of Mayuberi Village, Anis Murib, stated that the community felt very helped, and the TNI Post had become the only health service center they had.
This commitment was also emphasized by Danpos Mayuberi, Second Lieutenant Inf Arif Natsir, who said that the presence of the TNI in the region is not only to maintain sovereignty, but also to listen to the aspirations of the community and become part of the daily lives of residents. According to him, public service is an inseparable part of the task of maintaining regional stability. With the humanist approach implemented by the TNI-Polri, the presence of the state is now felt not only in the form of physical protection, but also in the form of empathy and devotion.
The steps taken in Oksop and Mayuberi Districts are part of the government’s long-term strategy to develop Papua holistically and sustainably. The central government has designated Papua as one of the priority areas for national development, with an approach that is sensitive to local social, cultural, and geographical conditions. Through close collaboration between security forces and local governments, development is truly realized in the field, not just an administrative plan, but actually touching the needs of the community thanks to the concrete commitment of the central government.
Rebuilding damaged bridges, providing emergency logistics, and health services provided by the authorities are real symbols of the presence of the state in all dimensions of people’s lives. Infrastructure not only builds physical connectivity, but also becomes a bridge of hope, a link between the government and its people. With access that is reopened, people begin to have the opportunity to return to their activities, access markets, education, and other social services.
Synergy between the TNI, Polri, and local governments is an important key in maintaining the balance between security and public services. This effort reflects that the strength of the state lies not only in military capacity, but also in its ability to reach the community with an inclusive and humanist approach. Papua is not only about guarding the border region, but about ensuring that all citizens, wherever they are, feel the presence of a just state that sides with the welfare of the people.
With all these achievements, the steps of the TNI-Polri in the interior of Papua are worthy of being a national example, showing how the power of the state is present with the values of humanity, devotion, and certainty of protection. The state is present not to regulate from afar, but to walk with the community in facing challenges and realizing a better future.
*The author is a student in Makassar who is a native Papuan
