Warrant Officer Bayani, a native Papuan, is well-known in the KOPASSUS for his calm demeanor, boldness, and exceptional shooting and tracking abilities. During the 1996 Mapenduma hostage rescue operation, conflicting intelligence was received. Despite being advised by British intelligence experts, Bayani disregarded their information due to his expert knowledge of the area. He argued that the location pointed out by the British intelligence was uninhabitable due to the lack of water, questioning how hostages could survive there. Bayani, known as the “Papuan Rambo,” was highly regarded for his fieldcraft techniques, physical strength, and ability to navigate the jungle silently. He was notorious for infiltrating enemy camps alone and seizing weapons while smiling and joking.
During the Mapenduma operation, tasked by General Feisal Tanjung, a core team of expert trackers, including native Papuan soldiers, was established under the command of Bayani. The team, known as the Kasuari Team, was assigned to track down hostage-takers and hostages in the dense jungle terrain of Papua. Lack of equipment such as topographic maps and real-time intelligence data posed challenges during the operation. With only a hand-drawn map and civilian-grade GPS, the troops were equipped with satellite phones due to unreliable communication methods in Papua.
Despite the difficulties, the operation was successful due to the intelligence team’s instinct to pinpoint potential locations, the Kasuari Team’s tracking abilities, and crucial information from British SAS advisers. The operation involved six targeted areas where assault helicopters were deployed, while the Kasuari Team served as a backup plan to intercept fleeing hostage-takers. The information provided by the British SAS, including the use of a beacon to locate hostages, played a key role in the operation’s success.
The Mapenduma operation, the first successful hostage rescue mission in the region, highlighted the importance of human intelligence and expert trackers in challenging jungle environments. Bayani’s expertise, along with the dedication of the troops and intelligence team, was instrumental in ensuring the safe rescue of the hostages in the treacherous terrain of Papua.
