By: Theresia Wopari )*
Indigenous peoples’ organizations immediately intervened to deal with KST Papua and continue to invite them to return to using peaceful means. All of these things are strived to be able to bring peace and prosperity to the Land of Papua.
The Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) continues to carry out heinous and inhuman acts. Some time ago, they had taken hostage a pilot from New Zealand national Susi Air airline, Philip Mehrtens. It is known that the plane he was driving lost contact and was also burned by KST Papua on 7 February 2023.
After the bustling case of the Susi Air pilot taking hostage, it turns out that KST Papua is still not satisfied to continue to carry out tantrums. Most recently, KST opened fire on the Preparatory Military Command in the Gome District, Puncak Regency, Tuesday (28/3/2023). Apart from that, KST was also proven to have set fire to the teacher’s house. This brutal action was carried out by Ugly Waker and Numbuk Talenggen
Previously, KST shot a joint apparatus consisting of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) when the security forces were carrying out their duties, namely securing the Tarawih prayer at the Al Amaliah Ilu Mosque, Ilu District, Puncak Jaya Regency, Papua Mountains Province on Saturday 25 March 2023.
Regarding this matter, the Head of Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police, Kombes Pol Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo said that the security forces suddenly received shots from the front of one of the kiosks at the scene.
Then he revealed that the shooting was carried out by 2 (two) KST Papuans using 1 (one) short-barreled weapon and also 1 (one) long-barreled weapon.
Kombes Benny explained that as a result of the shooting, 3 (three) TNI-Polri personnel were victims, namely a member of the 1714-02/Ilu Koramil on behalf of Serda Riswar who received a gunshot wound to the spine and lower chin (died) and a member of the Ilu Police on behalf of Bripda Mesak Indey received a gunshot wound in the abdomen (passed away) and on behalf of Brigadier M. Arif Hidayat who was shot in the thigh in a conscious state.
According to him, the current situation in Puncak Jaya Regency is on alert one, the Police Chief and all members are alert and anticipate further attacks on members in the field. Not only increasing vigilance, but the Police are also continuing to pursue the perpetrators of the shooting.
With the occurrence of the two cases which were recently carried out by KST Papua to shock the public, then persuasive approaches are still being pursued by various parties to be able to approach them.
One of them came from the Chairperson of the Papuan Indigenous Peoples’ Institution (LMA), Lenis Kogoya, who admitted that he would assist in the process of freeing the Susi Air pilot who was held hostage by KST Papua, which has been going on for more than 1 (one) month. taken hostage by the group led by Egianus Kogoya.
Various kinds of efforts continue to be made, including by trying to approach the family or clan. Lenis, who is also a member of the Kogoya clan, continues to strive to be able to change the pattern or way of thinking that Egianus has in fighting for the welfare of the people of Papua.
How could it not be, the article in Egianus Kogoya’s thought, as if the way to be able to get the welfare of the people on Cenderawasih Earth is to separate itself from Indonesia.
But of course this mindset is not the same as what Lenis has, so she continues to try to invite the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) to join Indonesia and also jointly fight for the independence of the Motherland, but in another way, namely through education, health and economy.
The man who also serves as Expert Staff to the Office of the Presidential Staff (KSP) for Politics and Security said that he would continue to use a careful approach that would be carried out even in several concepts to help free the Susi Air pilot.
First, namely the indigenous Papuan peoples’ institutions must intervene to stop the killings that have been occurring so far. The Kogoya clan even immediately intervened to persuade Egianus Kogoya not to commit any more acts of terror, let alone to kill.
Apart from that, traditional institutions will also meet with Egianus Kogoya and continue to communicate with the hostage-takers. Lenis also called on the people of Papua not to continue committing murders. According to him, it is better for the people of Papua to jointly develop and advance the land of Papua so that it becomes a prosperous and peaceful region.
The path of peace is the best path that can be taken, and this is indeed an effort that is being fought for by many parties so that they can return to bringing peace to the Land of Papua. especially when dealing with KST, even the traditional community organizations immediately intervened and tried to establish communication from the heart and a clan approach.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bandung
