The Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KSTP) has committed extraordinary human rights violations against civilians, including women and children, in the form of murder and rape. The TNI and Polri will take firmer steps against separatist groups in Papua in order to protect the community, as well as to protect the nation and state.
Papua consists of six provinces and 42 districts and cities, while only three districts are declared as separatist red zones, namely Nduga, Intan Jaya and Puncak. These three districts were declared separatist red zones because in that area there were frequent acts of violence, including rape and murder of civilians, including children and women. So this incident has created extraordinary terror and fear for other community groups. In fact, the conflict situation in Papua with the ever-increasing escalation of violence is beyond the limits of humanitarian reasoning.
Presidential Chief of Staff, Moeldoko, said that the way the KST Papua network works is by carrying out terror in the form of acts of violence to create fear in society, so that the Papuan people are always under its influence. The Papuan separatist group hopes that by carrying out acts of violence, the government will not continue its development in Papua. However, Moeldoko confirmed that the President had emphasized that whatever the situation, development in Papua would continue.
Terror acts are often carried out by KST Papua in various regions in Papua. KST Papua also expelled residents to vacate their villages on the grounds that they were going to war with the TNI and Polri security forces. In its attacks, KST Papua often releases propaganda and one of them is slandering TNI and Polri troops.
Meanwhile, Military and Defense Observer, Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, said that KST Papua is the most cowardly rebel gang in the world. The reason is, their actions often hide behind the bright names of religious figures. Apart from that, the methods of the KST Papua rebellion that have been carried out so far have actually used cowardly methods. They used women and children as shields to fight the TNI and Polri security forces.
Even KST Papua often barters, as they did in the hostage case of Susi Air pilot Philips Mark Merthens since Tuesday 7 February 2023. The pattern of exchange is to ask for firearms and other weapons of war as material to be exchanged with the Susi Air pilot who is currently being held hostage.
Apart from that, the Main Expert of the Presidential Staff Office, Theofransus Litaay, said that the series of KST Papua terror acts was not due to the lack of welfare carried out by the government in Papua. According to him, the government is actually increasing development and welfare of the people in Papua. Theo suspects that the KST Papua group does not like the development carried out by the government. According to him, the government’s welfare development has reduced the influence of separatist groups on society. Because of this, the separatist group carried out terror and attacks on civilians. So under these conditions, the government continues to prepare steps, both soft and hard approaches, to resolve the Papua KST problem. Because the people in Papua must be guaranteed security and decent living comfort.
The existence of the Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KSTP) is a frightening terror for the Papuan people. They cannot carry out activities freely like ordinary citizens. At all times they must be alert to the appearance of KST Papua who could take them hostage and even commit acts of violence or burn down houses and take food.
Currently, the government continues to make serious efforts to take firm action against Papuan KST members who commit criminal acts. Security forces continue to try to uncover and arrest Papuan KST members who are involved in attacks on security forces and civilians, murders, kidnappings and other activities. Through a fair legal process, the government seeks to ensure accountability and limit the activities of KST Papua.
The Papuan people strongly condemn all brutal actions and movements of the Papuan KST, because they have damaged the foundations of harmony and peace in Papua. Therefore, the people in Papua fully support the efforts made by the government through the security forces in taking firm action against KST Papua, which is the source of chaos in the land of Papua.
The Papuan KST action took Papua’s development framework off the path that the Papuan people should be able to enjoy now. When development stops, in the long term it will have an impact on problems with the welfare of the Papuan people, such as road access from one region to another.
The Indonesian government has committed to resolving the KST Papua conflict through a comprehensive approach. By combining security and development, the Government seeks to create safe and supportive conditions for the Papuan people. Through regional security, law enforcement, infrastructure development and community empowerment, the Government seeks to achieve security and sustainable development in Papua. Apart from that, the role of all elements of society is very much needed and they must work together to help the government and TNI-Polri in overcoming the series of KST Papua actions.