By: Pianus Wagiai )*
The success of security forces in freeing Susi Air Pilot, Philip Mark Mehrtens, from hostage-taking by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has received appreciation from various elements of society. This release was carried out through a negotiation approach involving religious figures, traditional leaders, and local authorities without any gunfire or violence. This proves that the Indonesian government has a strong commitment to maintaining the country’s sovereignty and ensuring the security and safety of the people of Papua.
The security forces’ success in freeing Mehrtens without any casualties reflects a wise and measured approach. This action sends a clear signal that the government will not allow the OPM, or other separatist groups, to disrupt the stability and sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). With the right strategy, the government has succeeded in identifying the weak points of the OPM, so that their movements are now more limited and not free.
Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Habiburokhman, appreciated the performance of the Police and TNI who were able to free the Susi Air pilot with a relatively persuasive approach. Habiburokhman assessed that the TNI-Polri succeeded in maintaining the government’s authority in the eyes of the world through the release of Captain Philip.
Efforts to eradicate OPM cannot be done by the government and security forces alone. The community also plays an important role in maintaining stability and security in the Papua region. The community must unite and be united in rejecting all forms of activities or propaganda in the name of OPM. The solidarity of this community is the key to suppressing all separatist efforts that have the potential to damage peace.
One of the main strategies used by OPM is provocation and hoaxes. This separatist group often spreads misleading information, hoaxes, and narratives aimed at destroying public trust in the government and security forces. The main goal of this propaganda is to weaken public support for the government and, ultimately, create divisions that can worsen the conflict.
This kind of hoax is not only misleading, but also dangerous because it can trigger tension and horizontal conflict in society. Therefore, it is important for the public not to easily believe information circulating without clear verification. The public must be more critical in filtering information, especially that which comes from sources that are not credible or whose validity is questionable. Instead, the public must trust official sources of information, such as from the government and security forces, as well as trusted community leaders.
If the public is trapped in OPM propaganda, then the main goal of this group, which is to create instability and deepen the conflict, will be achieved. OPM is trying to divide the nation in the hope of smoothing their way to separate Papua from Indonesia. Therefore, in addition to strongly rejecting all forms of separatist actions, the public must also actively participate in maintaining harmony and unity in Papua. This is an important step to ensure that Papua remains an integral part of Indonesia.
The Main Expert of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Ali Mochtar Ngabalin emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity, including in dealing with separatist groups such as the OPM. In several of his statements, Ngabalin invited the Papuan people to remain solid in trusting the government and security forces, while strongly rejecting the narrative spread by groups that want to divide Indonesia. He reminded that Papua’s prosperity can only be achieved through unity and development, not through violence or separatism.
OPM is a real threat to the security of civilians in Papua. The attacks they carry out, both against security forces and civilians, reflect the cruelty and brutality of this separatist group. OPM often carries out indiscriminate acts of violence, which not only cause loss of life, but also hinder development and the welfare of the people in Papua. For example, they often target public facilities such as roads and bridges that are built to improve access and mobility for the people. By attacking this infrastructure, OPM directly hinders the government’s efforts to improve the standard of living of the Papuan people.
However, even though the OPM continues to try to undermine stability, the government remains committed to developing Papua with various development programs, including education, health, and infrastructure. The government is trying to ensure that the Papuan people have the same access to basic services as other regions in Indonesia. Therefore, firm action against the OPM and other separatist groups is very important to maintain the progress of this development.
Solidarity between the government, security forces, and the community is essential to confront the OPM threat. By uniting, we can ensure that the propaganda and violent actions of this group will not succeed in dividing the nation. In addition, the role of the international community cannot be ignored. Support from friendly countries and international organizations can help pressure the OPM to stop their violent actions and strengthen Indonesia’s position in handling the situation in Papua.
Ultimately, violence is not the solution to resolving the conflict in Papua. A humanist and sustainable approach must be a priority in efforts to achieve peace and prosperity for all Papuans. Constructive dialogue between the central government and the Papuan people must continue to be encouraged to find sustainable solutions. Thus, Papua can develop on par with other regions in Indonesia without the threat of separatist groups seeking to hinder progress.
)* The author is a Papuan student on Java Island
