By: Rebecca Marian) *
Although separatist groups in Papua are increasingly acting up, most Papuan people consciously say that they are Indonesian and still want Papua not to be separated from the Republic of Indonesia.
Papua as one part of the sovereignty of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) has gone through a referendum process known as PEPERA where the results have been ratified through UN resolution No 2504 issued by the UN General Assembly on 19 November 1969.
The resolution was proposed by 6 countries and accepted by the UN General Assembly with 84 agreed votes, 0 opposed and 30 abstentions. Not being questioned by PEPERA by any country shows that, PEPERA is accepted by the international community. That is, Papua as part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia has been recognized by the international community and authorized by the highest international institution, the United Nations.
This certainly becomes a guideline that Papua is legitimate and constitutionally official as part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
If later figures of separatist figures like Benny Wenda said that Papua was now living in misery under the Indonesian government, there would certainly be a big question mark, if Papua were separated from the Republic of Indonesia, then would Papua become more prosperous? Forget the government policy that has uniformed fuel prices from Sabang to Merauke.
Moreover, during the administration of President Jokowi, surveys show that Papuans’ satisfaction reaches 90 percent. This means that Papuans themselves claim to be satisfied with the programs run by the Jokowi government in Papua, so there is no reason for Papua to say a referendum.
The government also firmly rejected the referendum demand voiced by a number of masses in Papua and West Papua during the riots which took place in the last few days.
Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto believes that the referendum demand did not come from most Papuans and West Papuans, but rather individuals who deliberately rode the racial event.
Otis Rio, a Papuan citizen, said that it is very important that our brothers from the Wamena mountain community were deceived by irresponsible people, deliberately creating riots and using racism.
Otis also regretted that the riots that occurred in Papua and West Papua were inseparable from the provocation and news of the hoax carried out by individuals and organizations affiliated with foreign parties. Even foreign media also spread hoax news, even though in the end someone corrected it.
Otis also reaffirmed that Papua has become a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia and recognized by international law, he also urged not to provide a loophole for provocateurs and NGOs pro-referendum.
He continued, Otis stressed that indigenous Papuans still chose to be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and no one felt colonized.
Certainly it will become a boomerang for Indonesia if domestic affairs related to Papua are interfered with by foreign hands, even though the problems in Papua clearly require a dialogical approach from the regional and central government.
Previously a number of citizens of the city of Madiun and Papua held a declaration in front of the mayor and Formkompimda of Madiun City.
Representative of Sorong, West Papua residents who are also soldiers of Battalion Battalion 501 Bajrayudha Madiun Battalion, Agus Fattari said, the declaration was made as a form of pride for the independence that had been achieved by the Indonesian people.
The declaration certainly deserves support to increase the spirit of unity and oneness in the Motherland.
We certainly have to understand the fact that the Indonesian nation is a combination of various races in the world, then our brothers and sisters in East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku in general also have the same characteristics and races as our brothers and sisters in Papua, certainly there is no reason to say that indigenous Papuans are different from Indonesians, and there is no reason for indigenous Papuans to consider themselves different from Indonesians.
We are all one Indonesian, even indigenous Papuans still want the red and white flag to fly in their area without any worries about the rebellion of separatists.
) * The writer is a Papuan student, living in Jakarta