Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Papua police are continually intensifying a community-based program called "Binmas Noken" to win over the hearts and minds of Papuan communities before the convening of the 2021 PON National Games and National Para Games (Peparnas).

To this end, the police is working closely with regional administrations as well as religious and community figures to create and promote a peaceful situation before the convening of Papua's national multi-sport events in October 2021.

Through the "Binmas Noken" Program, police officers on duty are giving due importance to being heedful to the Papuan communities' requests, requirements, and aspirations, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Friday.

In connection with all participating athletes and officials coming from across the archipelago, Fakhiri urged journalists to serve the public more soft news content rather than hard news content, especially those pertaining to armed violence.

The PON National Games will be held in Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura, Merauke, and Mimika on October 2-15, he remarked.

On account of the national multi-sport events, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo had paid a visit to Sentani, Jayapura District, on May 26, 2021.

The duo observed and reviewed preparations for organizing the multi-sport events in which selected athletes and officials from across Indonesian provinces will join.

Over the course of the last few years, armed Papuan terrorist groups have also applied hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and unleashed acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to make the people fearful of them.

Construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft were the recent targets of such terror acts.

On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists, operating in Beoga, ambushed State Intelligence Agency (Papua) Chief Maj. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha and several security personnel during their visit to Dambet Village.

Following Nugraha's fatal shooting, President Joko Widodo instructed the TNI and National Police to track down and arrest all members of armed separatist and terrorist groups operating in Papua while accentuating that there is no place within the Indonesian territory for them. Related news: TNI, police top brass observe preparations for Papua's national games
Related news: PON Papua will be held on schedule, sports minister assures


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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
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