By : Timothy Gobay )*
The KST (Separatist and Terrorist Group) is getting increasingly troubling because it set fire to heavy equipment in the Yapen area, Papua. Their actions are detrimental and dangerous because they are worried that the fire will spread to other places. KST must be dealt with firmly so that it does not become more cruel and injure the people of Cendrawasih Earth.
The Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) is a group that is subordinate to the Free Papua Organization (OPM). They served in the field to complete defection missions and form the Federal Republic of West Papua. The public hates the KST because it often commits acts of violence and harms civilians.
One of the incidents that angered the community was when KST burned an excavator type heavy equipment in the Woda Village area, Yapen Regency, Papua. Deputy Chief of Regional Police for Papua Brigadier General Ramdani Hidayat stated that KST set fire to excavators, even though the heavy equipment was needed for road repairs. After setting fires, they raised the Morning Star flag and demanded the release of KST members who had been detained by the authorities.
Police Brigadier General Ramdani Hidayat continued, KST threatened to carry out another attack if the authorities did not grant their demands. To deal with the separatist group, Brimob members were deployed to Yapen District and gave chase.
The community fully supports the security forces in eradicating KST. Because they are very harmful. Excavators are of course very expensive. If there is no heavy equipment, the road repair process will be delayed because they have to bring it back from other areas and it will take a long time.
KST is very detrimental to the people of Papua because they don’t just burn heavy equipment. However, they have also burned down school buildings and people’s homes in Bumi Cendrawasih. Therefore, the Papuan people are very anti-KST and assist the apparatus in the mission to eradicate the rebel group.
KST must be eradicated so as not to harm and endanger the people of Papua. Don’t let their attack cause the situation to get worse and hostilities between residents to escalate. It is possible that the KST attack sparked a dangerous inter-tribal war, because they pitted Papuans against each other.
The Cartenz Peace Task Force as a team specifically formed to eradicate KST is increasingly diligent in conducting patrols. They usually patrol Puncak District, because it is still prone to conflict there. The community must be guarded until there is a KST attack which can cause injuries, even fatalities.
Then, the Cartenz Peace Task Force is also looking for any KST headquarters, because they don’t only have 1 base. If you have found it, it will be easy to catch it because there are many KST members gathering there. They can be caught and put in prison, so that they will no longer disturb the community.
Meanwhile, President Jokowi allowed the security forces to take decisive, measurable action if there was armed contact with KST. This is not a violation of human rights, because at a critical moment what happens is the stake of life. No one will make an issue of this case anymore, because if KST is not eradicated there will be destruction and killings in the Papua region.
Firm action against KST needs to be taken, in addition to giving the most severe punishment. The TNI and Polri as security forces are also allowed to act decisively against KST if there are conflicts in vulnerable areas. In fact, they are also allowed to take measured decisive action when dealing directly with KST members.
The community condemned the violence perpetrated by KST. After all, this is not the first incident. Since the beginning of 2023, KST has often taken action to disturb the public. On March 25, 2023, KST Papua opened fire on members of the TNI-Polri who were on duty at guarding worship and conducted gunfire at night. As a result, three officers were injured and two officers died.
The public criticized KST for carrying out consecutive shootings. Nelson Ondi, Jayapura Regency Youth Leader, was furious with the KST actions which are still happening. KST’s actions should be responded with firm action by the government. Without it, members of the separatist group will always carry out their actions.
Nelson Ondi’s firm statement followed the endless actions carried out by separatist groups in the area. KST also attacked motorcycle taxi drivers who were seen as spies.
Various efforts have been made by the government to counter the KST action, namely by increasing the strength of soldiers, approaching community leaders, cutting off KST logistics, welfare-oriented development to controlling the KST base, especially Nduga.
Civilians in Bumi Cendrawasih support KST’s arrest because they are tired of the various terrors perpetrated by the separatist group. Apart from physical terror (which makes you afraid of getting hit by stray bullets) there is also mental terror, both in the real world and in cyberspace. How unsettling.
KST became even more troubling by setting fire to a heavy equipment in Yapen. KST eradication continues to be carried out, the aim is so that the Papuan people can live their lives safely without terror. Public safety must come first. Do not let them become victims during the attack. Therefore, if there is a plan to increase TNI personnel in Papua, the community is very supportive of this so that Papua’s security is maintained.
)* Writer Papuan student lives in Gorontalo
