By: Jeremiah Kogoya) *
December 1 is the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), which we already know that the organization has a mission to separate from the Republic of Indonesia. The separatist movement certainly received a lot of criticism from various parties, because OPM has become the culprit in many of the riots in Papua and the organization is also not tired in begging for support from abroad.
Ahead of the beginning of December, Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said that his party was wary of 4 cities namely, Jayapura, Sentani, Wamena and Timika ahead of the upcoming OPM Anniversary.
Moreover, it has heard information about the movement of the Papuan armed separatist criminal group (KKSB) which will go down the mountain.
He said, specifically for Timika where there is PT Freeport there, it would try to make maximum security considering the threat from the KKSB that would disrupt the operations of the largest mining company in Indonesia.
The special task force team formed to handle the KKB is currently working, including conducting intensive communication with community and religious leaders through FKUB so that the community is not easily provoked.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ministry of Religion of Mimika Regency, Papua, appealed to the Papuan people not to be provoked by various issues circulating ahead of the separatist organization’s anniversary. The community is expected to continue to maintain the situation to remain conducive.
The Head of the Ministry of Religion in Mimika, Utler Adrianus, said that people should not be provoked by various Issues ahead of December 1. Moreover, this month is a very good time for local Christians for total reflection.
Adrianus invited all people to maintain Papua as a zone of Peace. He also refused if the moment in December was tinged with violence and unbecoming behavior. Because, every December is the year that Christians are waiting for every year.
To maintain a peaceful atmosphere, the Ministry of Religion of Mimika together with the local government (Pemda) and the police, also banned the sale of various alcoholic beverages or alcohol that could trigger a series of criminal acts ahead of Christmas Day.
So far separatist groups such as OPM continue to try to play and reverse the facts to make various propaganda that corners Indonesia, so that foreign countries who do not know the problem clearly, will assume that Indonesia has committed human rights violations to OPM and its sympathizers.
OPM has also proven to be inconsistent with what Papuans aspire to, such as the demands for the division of Papua which had been negotiated with President Jokowi. In fact, the OPM rejects the proposal for pemekaran that aspired by the people of Papua.
This certainly contradicts the aspirations of a group of community leaders in the region of South Papua and the Central Mountains who have submitted proposals to support the expansion of Papua to Governor Lukas Enembe.
This certainly shows very clearly that OPM is a treason group that often afflicts the people of Papua and impedes development.
With all the riots caused by the OPM, the existence of the Organization was judged to be no longer just a separatist mob, but more inclined to terrorists. Because they have exceeded and violated human rights.
This was proven by the sadistic massacre carried out by OPM against 19 PT Istaka Karya workers who were building the Trans Papua project in Nduga Regency, Papua.
The group was also noted to have held dozens of teachers who were working at SD YPGRI 1, SMPN 1 and medical personnel who were on duty at the Mapenduma Community Health Center, Nduga in 2018.
In addition to attacking and harassing civilians, the OPM also did not hesitate to attack the security forces. As in the case of the shooting at Kenyam Airport on June 25, 2018, the group shot at the Twin Otter Trigana Air plane which was then chartered by Brimob. Where at that time Brimob was tasked to secure the elections. For the incident, 2 people were injured.
For this series of sadistic stories, is it proper that December 1 is celebrated as a birthday for the OPM that has given birth to bloodshed and tears for Papua.
) * Papuan student writer lives in Jakarta