The community service was organized by officers of the TNI’s Raider Infantry Battalion 323/Buaya Putih Kostrad task force, operating under the command of the Habema Operational Command, stationed at the Koper Post in the village.
“The initiative of the 323 Task Force to organize the Smart Papua program at Koper Post reflects TNI’s commitment to providing basic needs, primarily education service for school-age children, to accelerate the development in Papua,” TNI's Habema operational commander, Brigadier General Lucky Avianto, said in a press statement issued on Sunday.
Koper Post commander, First Lieutenant Anggun, personally invited primary school children in Kago village to take part in the activity organized by his unit on Saturday (July 13).
He noted the local children’s enthusiasm to flock to the activity, which he felt thankful for.
Apart from teaching school lessons, the TNI officers also taught children about respecting parents and their peers, as well as reminding them about the importance of ethics in a community.
Meanwhile, a local student, Lukas Tinal said he is happy to attend the learning activity by the TNI. “Thank you, 'Uncle Soldier'. We enjoyed studying at the Kostrad 323 post. God bless you,” he remarked.
TNI's humane approach in Papua is consistent with Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2020 on the Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua, which mandates the military to engage with local figures and strategic groups to promote regional development.
It also aligns with the soft power strategy devised by TNI commander General Agus Subiyanto to address Papua issues.
Habema Operational Command, a joint military-police task force, was set up earlier this year to optimize joint security operations in Papua to prevent local conflicts and neutralize the threat posed by armed Papuan groups, especially the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Related news: In Papua, TNI pursuing security with a humane face
Reporter: Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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