By: Viktor Awoitauw )*
The Terrorist Separatist Group (KST) is acting again and this time they are burning down a priest’s house. Their actions were outrageous because house burning had occurred several times. Moreover, what was burned was the house of a priest who should be respected as a religious figure and community leader.
The image of Papua as a beautiful and safe place for tourism is tarnished by KST. They repeatedly attacked residents, both native Papuans and immigrants. KST also recklessly raided the headquarters of the security forces.
KST’s actions are very troubling because the people of Cendrawasih Earth are affected, even though the rebel group is only a handful of people, and the majority of Papuans hate them because they don’t want to become independent.
On May 20, 2023, a resident’s house was burnt in Puncak District, Central Papua Province. In that tragic event, the semi-permanent house belonging to Pastors Loas Kogoya and Daniel Emba was burnt.
Kabid Humas Polda Papua Kombes Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo said the burning of the pastor’s house was carried out by members of KST in the afternoon, around 15.30 Eastern Indonesia Time. Residents noticed the burning action when they saw a plume of black smoke.
After there was a puff of smoke, residents then reported the incident to the Ilaga Police. Officers led by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Ilaga Ipda M Mara Police immediately moved to the scene of the incident. When they arrived at the location, the fire had devoured all parts of the house and was only extinguished an hour later. Material losses are estimated at 300 million rupiah.
One of the KST members, Sebby Sembom, admitted that his party had carried out the arson. KST did this because it was still at war (against the security forces).
The community condemned the KST action which burned residents’ houses. How could they have the heart to burn down a house, even if only semi-permanently? Fortunately, there were no casualties in this tragic event.
Moreover, what KST burned was the pastor’s house. Religious figures should be protected and respected. However, KST was insolent by setting fire to the pastor’s house. Whereas priests are very important for spreading religious values, humanity, and peace to all Papuan people.
The Papuan people criticize KST because this is not the first time they have set fire to a house. On November 2, 2021, an arson occurred in a residential area, in the Sugapa District, Intan Jaya, and the perpetrators were KST members.
The Head of Information for the Joint Regional Defense Command III Colonel Czi IGN Suriastawa stated that previously there had been information that KST members were coming, but thanks to the alertness of the apparatus, it was prevented. However, they came again and burned people’s houses.
KST also plans to burn down office buildings, not only residents’ homes. Gunfights between their members and members of the TNI-Polri are still going on but the situation is not yet conducive. He also doesn’t have any new information yet because the Intan Jaya area is experiencing signal difficulties, so no family member can become an informant.
When there is an attack that ends in shootings and arson, of course the losers are the civilians. The public immediately criticized this action because KST always riots and harms other people, deliberately setting fire to residents’ houses. How much material loss do they have to bear? Especially when there is a loss of life, the family will be sad for a long time.
The Papuan people have always had antipathy towards KST because this is not the first time they have carried out an attack. Suidah many times they throw tantrums, and quite a lot of victims. Starting from students, teachers, to health workers, all died as a result of attacks from KST members.
Therefore, the community supports the arrest of KST members, because they always disturb residents. They are even determined to take the lives of their own tribesmen, so they have crossed the line and violated human rights. If you really want to free yourself, why harm others?
There is no community that supports KST’s actions because they are a criminal and terrorist organization, and often commit crimes. The Papuan people actually support the eradication of KST by members of the TNI and Polri. If there is still a KST in Papua, then peace has not materialized.
The security forces are also increasing their vigilance and patrolling, especially in vulnerable areas in Papua, such as Intan Jaya and Yahukimo. They conducted raids and prevented the riots from happening again. In addition, the Cartenz Peace Task Force is also increasingly diligent in taking action and arresting KST members.
The burning of the priest’s house by KST was criticized by the indigenous Papuan people. They saw that KST was very disrespectful because it had caused the pastor a big loss. A priest should be respected because he is a religious figure and a community figure. Papuans hate KST because it always destroys peace on Cendrawasih Land, and they support the authorities in eradicating this separatist group.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bandung
