By: Jeremiah Kogoya) *
In a global context, a separatist movement had taken place in Scandinaz which peaked in 2014 with a referendum to separate from the British empire. The argument put forward by separatists in Scotland is that Scottish life would be economically better if it separated from the British empire. The 2014 Scottish independence referendum is a referendum that considers whether Scotland should become an independent country or not, which was held on September 18, 2014. The vote count results announced on the morning of September 19, 2014 stated that the “No” faction which refused independence won this referendum with the acquisition votes 55.3%.
The general condition of the separatist movement is the belief that an area will be better off in economic, social and legal terms if it is separated from its mother country. The separatism movement is a movement that aims to gain sovereignty and separate a region or group of people from one another. However, according to the big Indonesian dictionary, separatism is an understanding that takes advantage of the division in a group (nation). Furthermore, the idea of separatism movement triggers the disintegration of the nation.
The separatist movement emerged due to several factors including, 1) Economic crisis and slow economic recovery. 2) Conflicts between political elites who only fight for their own interests, ultimately creating conditions of political instability. 3) Social crisis which was triggered by primodialism and exclusionism nuances of SARA. 4) Weak law enforcement and human rights so that it seems like there is omission by the state for violence that occurred in a number of regions, and 5) International intervention or the presence of parties from outside the State entering into the State and trying to divide and take advantage of these splits by instilling its influence on the country’s political and economic policies (especially post-independence countries).
In Indonesia, the issue of separatism is still a security issue that threatens the sovereignty of the State, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia and the safety of the whole nation. The separatist movement in Indonesia tends to be motivated by ethnic and other identity groups, which still wish to separate themselves from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, to form a State or self-government for cultural, religious or linguistic reasons, which are accumulated very complexly triggered by politics, economics, and social culture.
One of the separatist movements in Indonesia that still exists is the Free Papua Movement (OPM) Separatism Movement. Throughout the history of the separatist movement in Indonesia, the issue or conflict regarding the Free Papua Organization (OPM) is the biggest conflict that has ever been faced by Indonesia. In its development, the Papua Separatist Group also declared forming its own country under the name West Papua. Initially, the OPM group waged a traditional guerrilla war against the Indonesian Government. However, entering 2000, the Papua Separatist Group began to use non-violent or non-violent efforts such as dialogue, campaigns, one of which was through the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) led by Benny Wenda, as well as spreading propaganda issues about contradicting the condition of Papua through the role of technology such as online media.
The separatist movement in Papua seems to be fooling the Papuan people who basically have no desire to separate themselves and remain united with the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Discriminatory issues against the Papuan people who are trying to be built by separatist groups seem to be broken by various government priority programs carried out on earth of paradise ranging from Special Autonomy to development priorities. Minister of National Development Planning (PPN) / Head of Bappenas, Bambang PS Brodjonegoro said that in the 2019 RKP the government set out 5 national priorities which were spelled out in 24 priority programs. For the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Priority Program, priority activities that will be carried out include increasing access to and quality of health services, as well as increasing access to and quality of Papua’s contextual education services.
President Joko Widodo emphasized that the Provinces of Papua and West Papua would be prioritized for more attention during his administration. The President said that in an interview with Deputy General Leader of Kompas Daily, Budiman Tanuredjo, which was broadcast by Kompas TV in the One Desk program on Wednesday (8/21/2019) night. According to Jokowi, development in the era of his government was no longer Java-centric, but evenly distributed throughout Indonesia. The Head of State termed it “Indonesia-centric”. President Jokowi stressed, Papua and West Papua will continue to be his concern. Not only will it be built physically, but the government will embrace the people in the easternmost province with a welfare approach. Because that’s what we do. The welfare approach is nothing else.
The people of Papua and all the people of Indonesia are aware of and have a commitment that being within the Republic of Indonesia is an appropriate and final political decision. Therefore, separatism is a direct threat to the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia and the idea of separatism has triggered the disintegration of the nation.
) * The writer is a Papuan student living in Jakarta