[19.59, 15/2/2026] IPDA Dewa Yudha Perwira: TANAH MERAH – Isak tangis pecah di antara hamparan hutan dan landasan sederhana di pedalaman Papua. Di tengah suasana duka, masyarakat Korowai tidak memilih berdiam diri. Mereka bergotong royong mengumpulkan uang sebesar Rp2.000.400 sebagai bentuk kepedulian dan harapan agar transportasi pesawat, satu-satunya akses dari Korowai menuju Tanahmerah, tetap dapat beroperasi.
Bagi warga Korowai, pesawat bukan sekadar alat angkut. Ia adalah penghubung kehidupan. Melalui jalur udara itulah kebutuhan pokok didatangkan, pasien dirujuk untuk mendapatkan layanan kesehatan, anak-anak melanjutkan pendidikan, serta roda ekonomi tetap berputar. Ket…
[20.01, 15/2/2026] IPDA Dewa Yudha Perwira: From the Edge of Korowai’s Airstrip: Grief, Community Solidarity, and the Commitment of the Damai Cartenz Task Force to Safeguard the Only Access to Tanah Merah
TANAH MERAH – Tears broke out amid the vast rainforest and a modest airstrip deep in Papua’s interior. In the midst of grief, the Korowai community chose not to remain silent. They worked together to collect Rp2,000,400 as a symbol of compassion and hope, so that air transportation—the only access from Korowai to Tanah Merah—can continue operating.
For the people of Korowai, an aircraft is not merely a means of transport. It is a lifeline. Through this air route, basic necessities are delivered, patients are referred for medical treatment, children continue their education, and the local economy keeps moving. When that access is threatened, what is at stake is not just mobility, but survival itself.
Responding to the situation, the Damai Cartenz Task Force 2026 moved swiftly. Security measures were strengthened, coordination with various stakeholders was intensified, and a human-centered approach was prioritized to ensure the situation remained conducive and pioneer flight activities could continue safely.
Head of the Damai Cartenz Operation 2026, Brig. Gen. Pol. Dr. Faizal Ramadhani, S.Sos., S.I.K., M.H., emphasized that the community’s solidarity sends a strong message of hope for security and the continuity of transportation services.
“We extend our deepest condolences for the incident. The willingness of the Korowai community to voluntarily raise funds reflects extraordinary solidarity. The state must be present to ensure a sense of security, so that connectivity and community activities can continue,” he said.
According to him, maintaining stability in remote areas is not solely about security enforcement, but also about guaranteeing access to essential services. The Damai Cartenz Task Force, Faizal added, will continue coordinating with local governments and relevant stakeholders to ensure that flight routes remain safe and that communities do not lose their vital access.
Deputy Head of the Damai Cartenz Operation 2026, Sr. Comr. Pol. Adarma Sinaga, S.I.K., M.Hum., added that security reinforcement is focused on strategic points, including aircraft departure and arrival areas.
“We understand that aircraft are the only access for the Korowai people to reach Tanah Merah. Therefore, we will continue to enhance security so the community can feel at ease and flight activities can proceed safely,” he stressed.
He also called on the public to maintain unity and not be influenced by unverified information. “The solidarity shown by residents today reflects a strong spirit of togetherness. Our duty is to ensure the situation remains conducive so that hope does not come to a halt,” he added.
The security measures implemented are expected to have a direct impact on the community: ensuring smooth logistics distribution, uninterrupted health and education services, and guaranteed mobility for residents traveling from Korowai to Tanah Merah.
At the edge of that simple airstrip, community solidarity and the commitment of security personnel converge toward a single goal—to keep hope soaring, as high as the aircraft that sustain life in Papua’s remote interior.
