By : Roy Andarek*)
The Free Papua Organization (OPM) is not a representation of the aspirations of the Papuan people as a whole. The Papuan people emphasize that the OPM is a group of national traitors who are obstructing the government’s efforts to bring progress and prosperity to Papua.
The Papuan people also criticized the existence of the OPM. This organization only pursues the narrow interests of certain groups who want to divide the nation and cause unrest for personal interests. They consider that the OPM does not have the moral or political legitimacy to claim to be fighting for Papuan independence, because the majority of Papuan people reject acts of violence and separatism.
The acts of terror that have occurred in the last few months have made the public strongly condemn the actions of the OPM in shooting an Indigenous Papuan (OAP) named Senus Lepitalen in Borne District, Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua. This incident adds to tensions in the region, which has long been an area of conflict between the TPNPB-OPM and the Indonesian government.
Head of the Cartenz Peace Operations Public Relations Task Force, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, firmly denied accusations that Senus Lepitalen was a member of Indonesian government intelligence. He also explained that OPM’s alibi for killing civilians was based on TNI intelligence. However, in reality, they are civilians who also need protection.
Bayu explained that Senus Lepitalen had previously been a victim of violence by the TPNPB-OPM. Last year, Senus was one of the victims in an incident of abuse and hostage-taking involving employees of PT Infrastruktur Bisnis Sejahtera (PT IBS) in Okbab District, Bintang Mountains Regency, on May 12 2023.
The shooting of Senus Lepitalen occurred on Thursday morning, June 6 2024. At that time, Senus was in front of the fireplace in his house to warm himself when he heard a knock on the door. As soon as he opened the door, he was immediately shot in the chest with a short-barreled firearm.
This incident adds to a long list of violence in the Bintang Mountains region which has long been the center of conflict between the TPNPB-OPM and Indonesian security forces. This protracted conflict reflects the complexity of the situation in Papua, where demands for independence and efforts to maintain sovereignty by the Indonesian government continue to clash. Civil society often becomes victims of this tension, either through prosecution by the authorities or acts of violence by armed groups.
Chairman II of the Saireri Traditional Youth, Ali Kabiay, said that the OPM’s current struggle is not purely defending the Papuan people. Other countries are competing in an economic war, OPM is still busy carrying out violence and terror even against the Papuan people themselves.
Apart from that, the Chairman of the Papua Province Red and White Front, Max Abner Ohee, gave a statement rejecting the OPM in Papua because it had claimed many victims and asked the security forces, both TNI and Polri, to pursue and take legal action against the perpetrators.
The government continues to strive to uphold state sovereignty and resolve the Papuan conflict through various means, including political dialogue and economic development. However, the challenges faced remain large considering the complexity of the conflict and the diversity of views among the Papuan people themselves.
On the other hand, there are efforts from various parties, both local and international, to mediate the Papuan conflict and find a sustainable solution. Dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papuan pro-independence groups continues despite major challenges. International parties are also involved in encouraging peaceful dialogue and problem solving in Papua.
Moreover, the Papuan people who oppose OPM highlight the negative impacts caused by the organization’s activities. The armed conflict between OPM and Indonesian security forces has caused suffering to civilians, with countless casualties and material losses. Houses burned, infrastructure destroyed, and families separated due to never-ending violence.
Not only that, the existence of OPM has also hindered development and investment in Papua. Investors and entrepreneurs are reluctant to invest their capital in a region that is continually hit by tensions and security concerns. As a result, jobs that could have been created for the Papuan people have been hampered, leaving many Papuans trapped in poverty and uncertainty.
Regarding the security aspect, the Papuan people who reject the OPM state that this organization is a real threat to regional stability. Acts of terror and intimidation carried out by OPM members have created fear and anxiety among the community, hampering their daily lives and disturbing the peace they should enjoy.
In this context, the Papuan people emphasize that they will not tolerate the presence of OPM in their territory. They urged the Indonesian government to take firm action to eradicate OPM and restore peace and security for all Papuans. Apart from that, they also invite all components of society to unite against separatism and extremism which threaten the unity and unity of the nation.
Thus, the Papuan people’s rejection of the existence of the OPM is a form of courage and awareness of the importance of maintaining national sovereignty and unity. They are not passive in facing lurking threats, but with a loud and firm voice, they emphasize that Papua is an integral part of Indonesia that will never be separated.
*) Papuan Students Live in Jakarta
