By : Rebecca Marian )*
Riots had occurred in Wamena due to hoaxes, but the atmosphere was gradually conducive. The Papuan people are asked to remain calm and not be affected by the provocations and hoaxes raised by the KST (Separatist and Terrorist Group). There should be no more riots in Wamena or other areas in Papua.
Thursday, 24 February 2023 there was a riot in Wamena, Papua. This incident occurred when there was a hoax circulating about child kidnapping, and it ended in chaos because a group of elements set fire to the kiosk and residents were scared. In this tragic incident there were 10 fatalities and 14 injured residents, while from the security forces there were 14 injured victims.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fahiri explained the chronology of the Wamena riots: a grocery car was passing by in the Sinakma District, Jayawijaya Regency, Wamena. The car was attacked by a group of people who were consumed by hoaxes, who thought that the contents were kidnappers of minors (elementary school age).
Inspector General Mathius D Fahiri continued, there were members of the Jayawijaya Police who handled it and wanted to solve it at the Polres (legally). However, there were individuals who persisted and then carried out provocations to the residents resulting in riots and burning of kiosks and residents’ houses, which resulted in fatalities and injuries. He apologized and offered condolences for this tragic event.
After the riots, Wamena conditions began to be conducive. Even so, the authorities are still on guard to prevent something bad from happening, and are assisted by Propam. The public is also advised not to be swayed by provocations that KST might throw.
Papuan youth leader Absalom Yarisitouw stated that the people of Wamena are urged to remain calm and not be provoked by existing issues. In a sense, when there is a riot, what must be watched out for is the potential for repeated riots to occur due to provocation by elements. In this case it was KST who did it, so that the Papuan people hate the security forces and leave Indonesia.
When there is a riot, the apparatus comes to reconcile and settle it legally, because Indonesia is a country of laws. However, KST even fueled the issue that the authorities had come to eradicate the people of Papua. Therefore, the public is urged not to fall for any hoaxes and provocations spread by KST.
KST often throws tantrums and wants the Papuan people to be divided and then defend them and leave Indonesia. You do this by spreading news and hoax videos and propaganda. The public is asked to be more vigilant and ignore these hoaxes, because they are not true.
In 2019, KST through Benny Wenda (who self-proclaimed President of West Papua) made a hoax and the aim was to get native Papuans to expel migrants. Don’t let this hoax spread again so that riots don’t recur in Cendrawasih Earth.
The Papuan people are asked to be wiser in reading the news or viewing photos that are spread on social media or WA groups. Don’t get emotional over a photo that turns out to be a hoax that was deliberately spread by KST, to make Papuans hostile to the security forces, or to divide them and make them expel migrants.
If there are news and photos that are distributed via social media or WA, don’t just share them. But have to make sure this is true or hoax. Don’t fall for hoaxes that turned out to be made up by KST and must be confirmed through a special site created by the central government.
Confirmation is very much needed because if the community of origin shares it, the consequences will be very fatal. Don’t become a hoax spreader and cause many people to join in with antipathy towards the authorities. Even though the apparatus are friends of the people and do not have the heart to do negative things such as arson, the large number of officers in Papua is to protect civil society.
The reason is, just this time, KST is spreading hoaxes and provocations on social media. Some time ago this separatist group made fake news stating that the existence of the apparatus in Papua was to eradicate the Melanesian race. Even though this is clearly wrong, because the apparatus actually came to help the people and protect them from the violence of KST.
Therefore the Papuan people are urged to remain clear and put forward facts, especially when information is spreading on social media. Think beforehand, whether it is true or a lie. Don’t be reactionary because KST will definitely use it to make things chaotic.
The riots in Wamena have resulted in injuries and fatalities. The public is expected to remain calm and not be afraid of further riots, because the security forces are on tighter guard. They are encouraged to be wiser in using social media and not to believe fake photos and news, which could be spread by KST. Do not let the situation in Wamena be used by KST in inciting and dividing Papuans.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
