The public must be aware of hoax issues spread by OPM and its sympathizers. This is due to the spread of fake news or hoaxes which can mislead and trigger social instability.
OPM and its sympathizers have been proven to use hoaxes as a tool to influence public opinion and create tension. On May 27 2024, a viral video circulated showing the door of Madi Paniai Regional Hospital in East Paniai District being closed by being barred, accompanied by a narrative that the TNI and Polri were expelling patients and closing the emergency room. This video spread quickly on social media and caused unrest in society. However, Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih immediately issued a clarification that the information was a hoax.
Lieutenant Colonel Inf Candra Kurniawan, Head of Information for Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, emphasized that the TNI had never expelled patients from the hospital. On the other hand, TNI officers were present at the Madi Regional Hospital at the request of the medical team to provide a sense of security, considering the threat from the OPM who planned to burn down the hospital.
Candra further explained that his party had confirmed to the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) that the hospital doors were indeed barred, but this was done by hospital employees to prevent the loss of medicines and medical equipment, not due to expulsion by the authorities. Child patients were diverted to Deiyai Hospital because Madi Regional Hospital did not have a pediatrician, not because of intervention from the TNI or Polri.
Director of RSUD Madi, Dr. Agus Chen, said that currently the emergency room at RSUD Madi is not closed. However, none of the hospital staff were willing and brave to look after him because they were afraid. Both emergency room doctors and nurses, he continued, were afraid that hospital items would go missing.
Paniai Police Chief, AKBP Abdus Syukur Felani said that the presence of security forces was to secure the RSUD because it was a vital object. It is not true that there is an expulsion of patients, in fact the presence of the TNI-Polri is to provide a sense of security to both patients and health workers. Regarding the closing of the emergency room door, this was taken at the initiative of RSUD officers as a precautionary measure because the door lock was damaged. The officers on duty on Sunday morning did not come, so the door was closed to prevent theft from occurring in the room
This action of spreading hoaxes is not the first time OPM has carried out this action. Previously, OPM also carried out various acts of violence, including burning schools and kiosks belonging to residents in Madi and Kopo Villages, East Paniai District. On May 21 2024, OPM burned down 12 plots of kiosks and a school, causing significant material loss and causing trauma to the local community.
The spread of hoaxes by OPM aims to damage the image of the TNI and Polri and provoke the public. Hoaxes like this can give rise to public distrust of security forces and the government, and worsen the security situation in Papua. Therefore, it is very important for the public to always verify the information they receive before believing it or spreading it further. Hoaxes also damage the image of institutions that try to maintain security and order. In this case, the TNI and Polri, who were actually trying to protect the community and public facilities from OPM threats, were actually slandered as the parties who oppressed and expelled patients. This shows how important it is to verify and be critical of the information received.
TNI and Polri officers continue to strive to maintain security and order in the Papua region. Their presence at Madi Regional Hospital is one form of this effort, ensuring that health facilities can operate safely amidst threats from armed groups such as OPM. Apart from that, the authorities also continue to try to arrest and take firm action against perpetrators of violence, including OPM members who were involved in arson and attacks in the Paniai area.
In dealing with the rise of hoaxes, education and increasing public awareness about digital literacy is very important. The public must be educated to be more critical of the information they receive, especially from unclear or unreliable sources. Authorities, including the government and security forces, need to continue providing outreach and anti-hoax campaigns to prevent the spread of false information that can damage social stability and order.
A resilient society is a society that is critical and intelligent in receiving information. Resilience against hoaxes can be built through togetherness and collective awareness. As a community, we must support each other and work together to ensure that the information circulating between us is correct and useful.
The government and educational institutions also have an important role in increasing digital literacy and providing adequate education about the dangers of hoaxes. Socialization and education programs must continue to be encouraged to create a society that is more aware and resilient to attacks by false information.
Apart from that, the mass media also has an important role in preventing hoaxes. The media must ensure that the news conveyed has gone through a strict verification process and is sourced from credible information. Collaboration between the media, government and society is very necessary to create a healthy and trustworthy information environment.
The spread of hoaxes such as those carried out by OPM regarding the closure of Madi Paniai Regional Hospital is a real threat to security and public order. This hoax is not only misleading, but also has the potential to trigger conflict and instability. Therefore, it is very important for all of us to always be alert to the information we receive, verify it, and not be easily provoked by fake news. In this way, we can together maintain order and peace in society, as well as support the efforts of security forces in carrying out their duties to safeguard the safety of us all.
