REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Hadi Tjahjanto admitted that he had summoned Army Commander General Agus Subiyanto to follow up on the incident of violence committed by army soldiers in Papua some time ago.

“When I heard reports that there was persecution in the area of Puncak, Ilaga, I immediately took action, called the TNI Commander,” Hadi Tjahjanto said at the Kemenko Polhukam Building in Jakarta on Monday.

According to Hadi, Army General Agus Subiyanto immediately ordered his team to investigate the alleged violence in Papua. “And the Army Commander immediately carried out an investigation, went down to the field. Then it went directly to Battalion 300 (Infantry Raider Battalion 300/Brajawijaya) and already carried out joint actions with the Army Chief of Staff,” he said.

Hadi reiterated that the government was also proactive in dealing with humanitarian problems and called for the enforcement of the law against such cases of violence. “Then, if it is proven, legal action will be taken immediately according to the action made by the soldier, such as the images that are already circulating at this time,” he said.

Nevertheless, Hadi asked the public to wait for the outcome of the handling of the case from the TNI Commander and KSAD.

Earlier, the military said it had investigated the contents of a video containing footage of the mistreatment of a man allegedly committed by an army soldier in Papua.

The show, which went viral on social media in the past 24 hours, featured a number of men, one of them allegedly soldiers, taking turns beating and molesting a man who was in a bind and injured standing inside a drum.

In the show, one of the perpetrators was allegedly an army soldier because he was wearing a sweatshirt that likely referred to the unit's name, the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) Raider 300/Brajawijaya. The inscription “300" in golden yellow is printed quite clearly on the chest of the Army's distinctive green jersey.

Meanwhile, the Army Chief of Staff represented by the Chief of the TNI Illumination Service AD Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi expressed his apology for the violence in Papua some time ago, the video footage of which was spread on social media.

During a press conference at Denma Mabes TNI, Jakarta, on Monday, Kristomei said the actions of soldiers from Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 300/BJW will be used as an internal evaluation and introspection in the TNI AD environment.

KSAD General of the Army Maruli Simanjuntak has ordered the ranks of the TNI AD Military Police to carry out a crackdown on the soldier's body.

“The Army Military Police assisted by Pomdam III/Siliwangi will conduct an investigation into the links of the military servicemen directly involved in this violence,” Kristomei said.

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