Conflict Heats Up, Indonesian Police Deploy Hundreds of Personnel to North Maluku and Central Papua

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) has deployed hundreds of additional personnel to North Maluku and Central Papua, following conflicts that have intensified to the point of attacks on officers. Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Polri Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the deployment is to maintain security stability and respond quickly to any developments in the field. A readiness check for the troops, led by Deputy Chief of Police Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo at the Brimob Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, was conducted on Saturday (4/4/2026). “Polri is taking swift action by deploying additional personnel to strengthen security and handle the situation in Central Papua and North Maluku,” said Trunoyudo in his statement on Monday (6/4/2026). Furthermore, 26 personnel from the Profession and Security Division (Propam) have been divided between the two regions, and a team of 20 personnel from the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has been deployed to Central Papua. Trunoyudo explained that the additional personnel deployment in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, is due to a community conflict triggered by the murder of a resident in Bobane Jaya Village. Joint forces from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri), along with the local government, have moved to defuse the conflict, with the situation gradually becoming conducive by Friday afternoon (3/4/2026). Meanwhile, personnel reinforcement has been carried out in Dogiyai, Central Papua, following a serious assault on Polri member Bripda Juventus Edowai by unknown individuals, which resulted in the victim’s death. “We are also prioritising a humane approach as well as law enforcement against those responsible for the violence,” he said. He stated that Polri is currently investigating the murder case in Central Halmahera as well as the attack on personnel in Dogiyai, and ensuring that security in both regions remains under control. “We invite all communities to jointly maintain a conducive security and public order situation, not to be influenced by hoaxes or provocations that could worsen the situation,” he concluded.