Jakarta – General Andika Perkasa, Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), has asked the World Peace Organization (WPO) to help resolve interstate conflicts around the world.
General Andika Perkasa made the comment after meeting with numerous WPO executive members who paid a courtesy call on Saturday, as broadcast on Perkasa’s official YouTube account.
At the meeting, WPO executive members requested TNI cooperation and directives in order to carry out the world peace mission and install a symbolic world peace inscription in Papua.
Perkasa emphasized the importance of the World Peace Organization’s involvement in supporting more normative solutions to interstate conflicts.
To that aim, settling interstate issues should not be left solely to international organizations. He believes that a domestic-scale organization could help to reduce tensions between contending parties.
He went on to say that members of civil society had an important role in lowering tensions between conflicting parties.
WPO Deputy President Bambang Hari stated during the gathering that the WPO, which is now comprised of 27 retired TNI generals, was founded to encourage insightful views and discipline as specified by the TNI.
General Perkasa was sworn in as TNI commander by President Joko Widodo on November 17, 2021, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who reached the retirement age of 58 on November 8, 2021.
According to observers, Papua is a difficulty during Perkasa’s leadership since armed conflicts continue to occur in Papua and West Papua, despite the national and regional governments’ best efforts to improve the welfare of local residents through regional development.
In recent years, Papua has seen a surge in violence against civilians and security forces.
Intan Jaya had its worst month in September 2020, with notorious armed groups carrying out a series of attacks that killed two military and two civilians and injured two more.
On April 25, 2021, Papuan rebels operating in Beoga ambushed I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha, the chief of the Papua State Intelligence Agency, and other security personnel during a visit to Dambet village.
Nugraha died as a result of gunshot wounds.
