By: Bayu Wauran and TW Deora) *
Next week, there are two moments that attract people’s attention. First, the OPM Anniversary on December 1, 2019 and the planned PA 212 alumni on December 2, 2019. Through social media and internal media of these two groups, both OPM and PA 212 disseminate and campaign what they say to mobilize community participation in their activities. The public understands that the OPM and 212 reunion plans so far have not been very successful in influencing ordinary people or “floating mass” to follow their desires (OPM and 212).
For example, Free West Papua, one of the political wings of OPM in London, England continues to try to promote an activity they call “global flag raising” to be held on December 1, 2019 throughout the world, but until now, we can involve that Free West Papua propaganda is not followed or not accepted in any country, including Britain, the fact shows that the existence of Free West Papua and other OPM political wings in several countries such as Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, PNG, Vanuatu and other countries countries in the South Pacific are gradually fading away and no longer have any bullying.OPM and some supporting organizations or sympathizers tend to be called “tilted people” in their development.
Communities throughout the world and in friendly countries of Indonesia continue to trust the Indonesian government over OPM. Since President Megawati’s era, the central government has disbursed special autonomy funds for Papua and Papua Bara in an effort to improve the level of education, health, the running of the people’s economy and infrastructure development. But until now, the level of education and health in Papua is still below the standard and Papuan workers are always unable to compete with workers from other provinces in Indonesia. The Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has made a kind of evaluation related to the implementation of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund, which was carried out in 2003, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2018. Some experts related to the Papua issue have given their suggestions and oponions regarding Papua’s Special Autonomy which is considered a failure where it becomes a political munition for less-nationalist local elites and Papuan officials to “take advantage” of this problem.
Meanwhile, if we discuss the problem of the OPM separatist group, it needs to be understood that the OPM still has the ability to carry out deadly attacks, where this makes the fighting spirit or morale of the OPM battle is maintained. Admittedly or not, the OPM and the population of Papua have been completely deceived by Benny Wenda, a political fugitive and political blast who has created asymmetrical problems in Papua. In fact, Benny Wenda does not have a loyal following in Papua, because Wenda uses or “sells” the Papuan issue as a way to gain pragmatic economic and political benefits.
Meanwhile, if we discuss and evaluate PA 212 inevitably, we must say that PA 212 is an illegal organization and has no legal basis, besides that PA 212 does not reflect the wishes of the Islamic community in Indonesia because the majority of Muslims in Indonesia are actually people who are moderate.
However, the PA 212 reunion plan is a political movement and they are also rumored to be maximizing a number of issues to attract the attention of the public to be present at the reunion, where PA 212 will capitalize on the polemic of the Minister of Religion’s statement on the veil and circle, Sukmawati blunders which will be used as an effort ” Sukmawati mengokokkan “. However, it is projected that most of the Indonesian Muslim community will not attend the PA 212 reunion event, including the Indonesian people especially those in Papua, West Papua, Greater Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Banten, Lampung, North Sumatra, North Sulawesi and Maluku.
) * Both authors are observers of strategic issues.
