By: Sabby Kosay )*
The Free Papua Organization (OPM) always commemorates 1 December 2019 as its birthday. Nevertheless, the people of Papua and West Papua are not interested in separatist groups’ celebrations. Because, December is a holy month in which there is Christmas.
December 1 seemed to be the day the separatists had been waiting for to celebrate their anniversary, so the police deployed 1,300 personnel to carry out security throughout Papua. In addition December 1 is also an important day in Papua, where it is an opening day to celebrate Christmas for Christians and Catholics from various church demonstrations.
Meanwhile Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said the December 1 was the independence day of the Papuan people, and this should be watched out because it was related to efforts to raise the Morning Star flag and to conduct demonstrations by mobilizing large masses and so on. It also did not agree to the raising of the Morning Star on 1 December or the days after.
On a different occasion, the head of the La Pago indigenous area Agus Rawa Kogoya appealed to all Papuans to not be incited by the OPM plan on December 1, 2019.
Agus considered, during the month of December the Papuan people, especially Christians, should be better prepared to welcome Christmas, which will be celebrated on December 25, 2019 and the New Year 2020.
He has also said that Papua is a land of peace and this has become a joint commitment so it should be agreed and heeded by not making noise or spreading false information. Moreover, December is the month to prepare for Christmas celebrations for Christians. So don’t let Christmas peace be influenced by cheap issues.
According to him, instead of making actions or speeches that could provoke riots, the community prayed better in their homes, not by gathering in the streets or in a place that was forbidden by the government. Especially in the last three months the situation in Papua is in a situation of recovery after anarchist action in a number of regions.
Of course, to maintain peace in December, the Papuan community should be smarter and more careful in accepting all forms of information or invitations that lead to problems. It’s good to prepare yourself and your family to welcome the Christmas celebration December 25 2019 and the new year 2020.
Although the current situation is conducive, but news is heard that the masses who want to take to the streets carrying the Morning Star flag symbol OPM.
On different occasions, the religious figure of Pdt. Albert Yoku invited the public to avoid everything that could cause riots or chaos on Cenderawasih Earth.
Of course we do not want the dark history to happen again, as in the fatal tragedy of December 2, 2018, where the OPM has massacred 31 road construction workers in Kali Yigi Kali Aurak, Yigi District, Nduga District conducted by the group leader Egianus Kogoya.
Agus also appealed to all people of Cenderawasih earth to always be wise and careful in receiving information before following an invitation that could create a commotion or conflict that could take victims.
The sacredness of December must certainly be maintained by always not easily provoked provocation or not spreading something that leads to conflicts between the nation’s children.
)* The author is a social political observer