By: Rebecca Marian )*
Pepera (Determination of People’s Opinion) in Papua on 19 November 1969 was carried out smoothly, in an orderly and safe manner, this Act was held by the United Nations and supervised directly by several observer countries, the result was that the people of Papua and West Papua said they would continue to join and become part of the State Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
The UN Secretary General finally headed to Jayapura to make it clear that the UN would guarantee the smooth process of the transfer of power from Untea to the Government of Indonesia. Because Papua integration guidelines May 1, 1963 and the results of PAPERA 1969 which gave birth to UN resolution 2405.
Pepera results were finally endorsed by the UN General Assembly through resolution 2505 on November 19, 1969, which means that Papua has returned to the Lap of Indonesia and has been fully supported by the UN International community.
In 2017, the British Government through the British Ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik, revealed that the British Government’s policy clearly supports the unity of Indonesia and Papua which is an absolute part of the Republic of Indonesia.
So there is no reason for Papua to separate from Indonesia. We have an important role to ensure that Papua can remain empowered and become an inseparable part of the Indonesian State.
The movement against Papuan independence was also echoed in Makassar. Dozens of activists from the alliance of Anak Bangsa Cinta NKRI held a demonstration in front of the National Monument on Liberation of West Irian.
The mass action was related to the riots that occurred in Papua Province, which is still set as a standby by the Government.
The Alliance of the Children of the Nation of Love NKRI requested that the security forces, especially the President, pay attention to the riots that occurred in Papua where a group of masses wanted to free themselves from the Republic of Indonesia and form an independent Papua.
The action commanded by Rey Gunarmin as the coordinator of the action gave speeches and requested that the events that occurred in Papua be resolved immediately, and strongly rejected the existence of efforts to compete and provoke through the issue of racism.
In addition, Rey hopes that the central government can guarantee the safety and comfort of all students or migrant residents in Papua.
On a different occasion, Chairman of the Kingmi Church Synod, Benny Giay, revealed that his party had spread an appeal to the people in Papua related to actions against racism in Papua, West Papua and other regions in Indonesia. The appeal contained an invitation to conduct a demonstration in an orderly manner and not fly the OPM flag / the Morning Star Flag.
Benny spread the appeal using leaflets to the people of Papua. The appeal was made because of learning from what happened in Deiyai, Papua on Wednesday, August 28, 2019. Where a demonstration against racialism at that time caused 2 protesters to die and one TNI soldier died.
He also stressed that actions in various places were originally intended to condemn racialism, however, these actions were often adorned with the fluttering of the Morning Star flag.
During the action in Fakfak last August, the raising of the Morning Star flag caused a counter-action. Papuan Student Action in various regions of Java, including in front of the Presidential Palace, was also decorated with Morning Star flags and calls for a Papuan referendum.
OPM until now is one of the pro-independence Papuan organizations, this makes it included in the list of separatist groups which until today is still fighting against the Republic of Indonesia.
The Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto has ensured that the person who raises the Morning Star flag will receive punishment according to the law.
Former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Mahfud MD said, in an effort to ease conflicts in Papua and West Papua, he requested that the government prioritize constructive and persuasive dialogue, because mass actions in the two provinces were feared to disrupt national stability.
In addition he also reminded the entire community not to be racist towards fellow citizens. This becomes important to prevent conflict from happening again. Indonesian society must not be racist towards others. Homeland is an agreement that is final and not negotiable, especially if there are those who want independence or secession.
)* The writer is a Papuan student, living in Jakarta