By: Yohanes Wandikbo )*
The riots that occurred in Yalimo Regency serve as an important reminder that peace can only be maintained if the public is not provoked by hoaxes. What began as a minor dispute between students escalated into a major riot, damaging property and disturbing the peace of residents. However, swift action by security forces and the local government managed to calm the situation, and conditions are now gradually returning to normal. This momentum must be maintained by rejecting false news and provocative issues deliberately spread to divide.
Papua Regional Police Public Relations Chief, Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito , confirmed that authorities have deployed two Brimob platoons to Yalimo to strengthen security. He emphasized that law enforcement will be carried out firmly to ensure the public’s safety. In his statement, Cahyo reminded residents to exercise restraint, not to take the law into their own hands, and to refrain from easily believing rumors from unknown sources. This message is highly relevant as hoaxes circulating on social media have been proven to trigger public unrest.
One of the circulating hoaxes is a racist rumor that is accused of triggering the riots. Police emphasized that the rumor is still under investigation and has not been proven to be true. Situations like this must be handled wisely to avoid exacerbating the situation. The public is urged to wait for official information from the authorities, rather than spreading unverified rumors. If the public is careless, provocation through hoaxes can escalate into horizontal conflict, detrimental to all parties.
In the Papuan socio-cultural context, traditional leaders play a significant role in calming the situation. Elelim traditional leader Musa Yare urged the community to exercise restraint and not be easily provoked. He emphasized that unity and peace are the foundation for building a better Papua. He believes the community should learn from this incident and be more prudent in dealing with problems. The voices of traditional leaders carry high moral weight and are respected by the local community, so this appeal is believed to be able to calm the community.
Another issue circulating in Yalimo is the accusation that Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) officers carried out the shooting. The Head of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command, Colonel Inf. Candra Kurniawan , strongly denied the report. He asserted that the information was a hoax deliberately spread by the OPM separatist group to pit the public against the security forces. Candra emphasized that the TNI always prioritizes communication and a peaceful approach in carrying out its duties to maintain security in Papua. This statement proves that false narratives are being used as a propaganda tool to instill distrust in state officials.
Herman Doga, head of the Jayawijaya Indigenous Peoples’ Institution (LMA) , echoed this sentiment. He emphasized that Papua has long been a peaceful region and must be protected from outside influences seeking to stir conflict. He argued that communities should not allow any party to disrupt development. Herman emphasized the importance of maintaining security within homes, churches, and honai (village houses), as peace is the foundation for progress.
The consistent messaging from security forces and traditional leaders demonstrates a unified stance that hoaxes and provocations should have no place. Papuans possess strong social capital in the form of solidarity, making it crucial to continue using it as a bulwark against provocation. Yalimo serves as an example of how conflict can be triggered by small matters when emotions take over, but can also quickly subside if all parties work together to maintain unity.
The biggest challenge today is the rapid flow of information in the digital age. Social media is often used by irresponsible parties to spread false news. Without public filtering, hoaxes can spread within minutes and trigger widespread unrest. Therefore, digital literacy is an urgent need. Papua’s young generation must be equipped with the ability to sort through information to avoid being easily provoked by deliberately distorted news.
The central government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to development in Papua, including improvements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. All of these programs require stable security conditions to be fully effective. Social conflict will only hinder the development process and harm the community itself. Therefore, maintaining peace is not solely the responsibility of the authorities but also the moral responsibility of all elements of society.
Churches, schools, and indigenous communities can be crucial pillars in educating the public to reject provocation. Churches can be places of reassurance and foster a sense of peace, while schools instill the value of tolerance from an early age. With the synergy of all these elements, Papua can remain a land of peace and hope.
The Yalimo incident is a valuable lesson in how vulnerable social situations can be when influenced by hoaxes. However, Yalimo also demonstrates that with cooperation between authorities, the government, and traditional leaders, peace can be restored. The key message that must continue to be echoed is that rejecting hoaxes means maintaining peace, and maintaining peace means paving the way for a more advanced and prosperous Papua.
)* The author is an observer of Papuan development
