Commission I Lauds Establishment Of Papua's Peacekeeping Task Force

BIN chief Sutiyoso (left) talking with Chairman of Commission I Mahfudz Siddiq (center) and Vice Chairman Tantowi Yahya (right) before the start of a working meeting at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta. (ANTARA FOTO/Sigid Kurniawan/wdy/15)

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Hanafi Rais, has lauded the establishment of a peacekeeping task force in Papua to solve the problem of separatism in the region.

"I laud the plan of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) to form a peacekeeping task force in Papua," Hanafi Rais said after attending a meeting with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) here on Monday.

According to Hanafi, the task force should be formed in a transparent fashion and must be comprehensive.

"In addition, Papuans must be involved in the task force as part of the efforts to resolve the issue of separatism," he said.

With regard to the involvement of Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in the task force, he noted that the Kopassus personnel were not used in military operations but only for maintaining peace.

"The head of the BIN has confirmed that the task force was not used for military operations but for peace," he stated.

Meanwhile, BIN chief Sutiyoso pointed out that the task force included military, police and BIN personnel.

"The goal was to resolve Papua's problem," he said.

He said he would take decisive steps if the separatists failed to lay down their arms. (WDY)