Warrant Officer Bayani, a native Papuan, is a well-known figure in KOPASSUS due to his calm demeanor, boldness, and exceptional shooting and tracking abilities. During the 1996 Mapenduma hostage rescue operation, conflicting intelligence was received, prompting the need for Bayani’s expertise. Despite the use of advanced technology by British intelligence experts to pinpoint the exact location of the hostages, Bayani dismissed their information, citing the lack of water in the area indicated. Known for his fieldcraft techniques and physical strength, Bayani had a reputation for his bravery, including infiltrating enemy guerilla camps alone and successfully capturing multiple weapons.
The 1996 Mapenduma military operation aimed to rescue 26 researchers, including seven foreigners, held hostage by the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Papua’s central highlands. Assigned by General Feisal Tanjung, the successful mission was executed by a team of expert trackers led by Warrant Officer Bayani, nicknamed the “Papuan Rambo”. The challenging operation, set in the rugged terrain of West Irian, required the Kasuari Team to track down the hostage-takers and retrieve the hostages if the initial assault failed, demonstrating Bayani’s exceptional capabilities in the field.
Despite the lack of sophisticated equipment and real-time intelligence data, the operation proved successful, with the intelligence team’s human intelligence playing a crucial role in identifying potential target locations. With assistance from international advisers from the British SAS, who provided crucial information regarding the hostages’ location through a beacon signal, the operation resulted in the successful rescue of the hostages. Bayani’s exemplary leadership and tracking abilities, combined with the determination and strategic planning of the team, contributed to the operation’s success, making it a landmark achievement in hostage rescue operations in challenging jungle environments.
