Bripka Alfred Returns 64 Maybrat Residents from the Forest to the Fold of the Republic of Indonesia

Bripka Alfred Namora assisted in the return of 64 residents in Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province, who had fled to the forest. They have returned to their home villages and expressed loyalty to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). For his dedication, Bripka Alfred has been nominated for the 2026 Hoegeng Awards programme. He is currently serving as the Acting Head of Section III of the Intelligence and Security Unit at the Maybrat Police Resort. Chairman of the Indonesian Catholic University Students Association (PMKRI) Sorong Selatan Branch, Paskalis Sewa, described Bripka Alfred as a highly dedicated police officer. According to Paskalis, Bripka Alfred was able to build humanistic communication with the local community. “We know him very well because of his presence in building interactive communication and persuasive approaches up to the return of the refugees,” said Paskalis when contacted by detikcom on Friday (13/3/2026). In addition, Paskalis said Bripka Alfred was involved in various community activities. One of them was organising a sports tournament to welcome Youth Pledge Day. The aim was to convince the local community that conditions were safe and conducive. “We carried out activities. The activity was actually when the community had not yet returned, but by making breakthroughs with those activities, it gave assurance that the regional situation was safe, the conflict obstacles were starting to decrease because of the activities we conducted,” he said. Paskalis explained that the activity initiated by Bripka Alfred ran safely and orderly. He also expressed gratitude that the activity could convince residents to return to their respective homes. “Brother Alfred himself has ideas and thoughts, so we carried out activities aimed at convincing the situation and the community that security conditions were safe so that the community could return,” he stated. In Paskalis’s view, Bripka Alfred is a police officer who is very close to the community. Even residents in remote areas know and recognise the officer serving in the Intelligence and Security Unit at the Maybrat Police Resort. “The community in almost all remote areas know him. Not just one person, but he is known by everyone. And because of his extraordinary style. Extraordinary, we acknowledge that,” he said. Bripka Alfred Returns Residents Who Fled to the Forest When contacted by detikcom, Bripka Alfred explained his reason for helping the return of residents who fled to the forest was due to a call of the heart. He considered those who went to the forest as still part of his family. “Yes, so perhaps that moved from this, besides as a police member, I also feel that this is also part of the family, and how can this region be good,” said Bripka Alfred. He admitted to often thinking about the condition of human resources (HR) in the area where he is stationed. He wants the quality of education for the community there to improve every day. Finally, he coordinated with local community leaders to return the residents who had fled to the forest. Local language and religious approaches were used in the return process. “We give motivation that if we don’t return them, then what about our HR? That’s sometimes we sleep inside for days, giving motivation,” said Bripka Alfred. He said the approach used to communicate with the community there would be more touching if using the local dialect. According to Alfred, it is simple languages that unite their communication. “Because people in rural villages connect quickly if we use simple language,” he stated. To convince the residents who had fled, Bripka Alfred said the approach process took up to three years. The effort bore fruit thanks to support from all elements of government and the community. “This is our Eastern mindset; if they are not convinced, they won’t dare. And they look at us. ‘Oh, this person is serious, oh this person is right’,” said Bripka Alfred. After everything succeeded, the 64 residents were brought to meet the police and local government. They were given an understanding of the state’s presence in helping their lives in the region. “We give assurance that the state is present to help them see the shortcomings in the region. If there are doctrines that previously had different understandings, if they want to return, let’s help together. Consider it our negligence, the state may not have paid attention to the reach of the region,” said Bripka Alfred. They also pledged loyalty in front of the local government coordination forum and the community. Subsequently, the residents will be mentored until they receive assistance from the government. “They are assessed, can be given back trust, yes. Conduct monitoring until finally they become ordinary residents. Some now work in the village, some work in the district, village officials. Yes, it’s getting better. Given trust, they also do it well,” he said. “After I’m sure they have started to adapt, and the community starts to accept them, then we start helping them. Give them small trades, in Papua here it’s usually called selling betel. We give them a little capital, try giving assistance. Let them go then we follow, oh it turns out they want to return but access is difficult. Fortunately, we got them without complicating them, yes they feel helped,” Alfred continued. He explained that the reason the residents fled was due to provocations from certain parties. In addition, they often received terror. Therefore, Bripka Alfred tried to give understanding to the residents not to be easily swayed by those provocateurs. “That’s because they are sometimes terrorised by those with different understandings, that ‘if you dare to oppose, we’ll do what to you’. Yes, we also have to give them assurance that the state is still present. We’ve joined this already, friend.”