By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
It is hoped that the 2024 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) celebrations will run safely and peacefully, especially for Christians in the Papua region. They want to celebrate Christmas with a feeling of security from various disturbances, including terror threats from the Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KST Papua).
Saireri Youth General Chair/Papua Youth Leader Gifli Buiney said that the violence committed by KST Papua was a disgraceful act and must be condemned by every citizen. The actions carried out by KST Papua against citizens or civil society as well as against security forces are actions that result in human rights violations.
Indonesian citizens uphold human rights and therefore condemn the actions taken by KST Papua. The State is committed to taking firm action against the perpetrators of this Separatist Terrorist Group, many of whom have committed disgraceful acts, resulting in victims or later causing casualties, whether the victim was injured or even lost someone’s life.
KST Papua has undermined Papua and made the Land of Papua unsafe because the things or actions carried out by KST Papua have disrupted Papua’s security situation. Papua is a land of peace so the presence of the state to provide a sense of comfort and security is to take firm action against the perpetrators of the Papuan KST who are still undermining the Land of Papua.
To make the Nataru celebration a success, the Government is committed to increasing awareness of the escalation of the Papuan KST. It was previously known that during Christmas 2022 KST Papua, five civilians died. Of course, this is a special concern for the Government and security forces so that similar incidents do not happen again during this Christmas season.
Head of the National Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo, said that the ranks of the Police and Regional Police in Papua must increase supervision and security against KST Papua attacks. As an anticipatory step, security forces in Papua will increase their preparedness by increasing patrols at a number of points prone to KST Papua disturbances.
Meanwhile, the National Police Chief, General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo emphasized that the police must narrow the space for KST Papua so that all Christians in Papua have the right to celebrate Christmas peacefully, safely, and without terror interference from KST Papua which could threaten the safety of the community.
Papuan Youth Leader, Gifli Buiney also appealed to all Papuan people that the momentum of celebrating Christmas and welcoming the new year 2024, is a sacred moment for Christians everywhere. Therefore, during the Christmas celebration, we need to work together to create a situation of security and peace in society.
Peace is something that we can create together, both individually and as a group. Institutions, youth leaders, traditional leaders and religious leaders should never stop providing advice and education to the public not to do things that could disrupt security stability and harm themselves.
We both need to provide education and appeal to the community intensively so that peace can be created during the Christmas celebrations and towards the new year. In this way, we can celebrate Christmas and enter the new year safely and peacefully in the Land of Papua.
Synergy between the community and government as well as security forces is very necessary to ensure that Nataru celebrations run safely and peacefully throughout Indonesia, especially on Earth of Cenderawasih. Because security threats can come at any time and anywhere, including from the inhumane KST Papua. Nataru Momentum is very sacred for worship and celebrating joy together. Don’t let it be tarnished by heinous incidents or other negative things from separatist groups in Papua. Let’s keep the Land of Papua a land of peace.