"We share a little bit of what we get with our Papuan brothers and sisters," Commanding officer of the 611 Infantry Battalion/Awang Long's Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force Lt.Col. Albert Frantesca said.
The community service is aimed at upholding the unity of the task force personnel stationed in the Bupul 12 security checkpoint with the Baidub villagers, he said in a press statement that ANTARA quoted here Sunday.
The bags of rice the border security checkpoint's commanding officer Second Lieutenant (2d Lt) Nyoman along with six soldiers donated hopefully became a little help to ease the villagers' burden, he said.
"We keep striving to help locals near the Indonesia-PNG border areas," he added.
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ANTARA had reported on Indonesian soldiers deployed in Papua that were helping locals through community services, such as healthcare, mobile library, voluntary teaching, and street cleanup programs.
In February this year, for instance, several personnel from the 756/WMS Infantry Battalion's security task force offered a mobile health service to people residing in Beanekogom Village, Tembagapura Sub-district, Mimika District.
The health service has routinely been conducted as part of the task force's community services to ensure that locals are in good health.
The task force's commander, Major Marolop Edison Bala Hutapea, stated that the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) is mindful of the difficulties faced by local residents and maintain an emotional connect with them.
Sincerity in conducting community services and tending to the needs of local communities would make the TNI security posts useful to them, according to Hutapea.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force in Mosso Village had ever initiated a street cleanup program in the village of Muara Tami Sub-district, Jayapura City.
Along with the villagers of Mosso, several members of the task force cleared dirt and debris from the village's streets.
The soldiers, who participated in the community service, belonged to the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) Raider 413 Mechanic Infantry Battalion.
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Translator: Muhsidin, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
