Moeldoko Asks for Higher Status Post TNI Killings in Nduga
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8 March 2019 23:20 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko assreted that the operation status of the Indonesia National Army (TNI) in Nduga, Papua must be raised following the killing of three soldiers by an armed criminal group.
"I have said that we need to evaluate the title of an armed criminal group. The question is, are they really a criminal group?" said Moeldoko on Friday, March 8, 2019, at the Bina Graha building, Jakarta. "If I say that they are a separatist group, then so be it. So the operation status can be raised."
Moeldoko said if the group is considered as a criminal group, TNI will always be their prey. TNI recognized their strength, but they could not react as it was the police's authority.
"That's the problem and situation faced by officers in the frontline. Because of what? Because if they are a criminal group, that's not different than a criminal group in Tanah Abang. We need to think further about this issue," Moeldoko underlined.
He admitted that increasing the military operation status in Nduga, Papua was beset by several issues, including foreign politics, that required further discussion with a number of related ministries to prevent TNI officers become victims.
FRISKI RIANA
