By : Moses Waker )*
The Terrorist Separatist Group (KST) apparently still likes to spread terror in Papua, this of course makes the Papuan people lose sympathy for KST, which they say is fighting for Papuan independence. In fact they did not fight, but spread terror and kept Papua from feeling safe.
The terror carried out by KST was not only directed at civilians, even military personnel were also targeted by KST, one of the victims from the TNI was Lt. Col. Johanis Victorius Tethool.
Previously on March 12, 2023, KST had set fire to the YPK Metanoia Dekai Elementary School building, apart from that the group also shot at commercial planes carrying civilians. Even though it is clear that this is not justified.
KST has actually undermined security and peace in Papua, a series of terror incidents such as burning of public facilities and shootings have made the Papuan people have no sympathy for what KST is doing.
It is only natural that Papuan civilians will support the efforts of the security forces to arrest KST members. This is because the community is already furious with various actions from KST.
On March 2, 2023, eight employees of Palaparing Timur Telematics were shot dead by the Terrorist Separatist Group. Those who were shot dead at that time were repairing Telkomsel’s Tower Base Transceiver Station 3 in Kago Village, Ilaga District, Puncak Papua.
In response to this, Military and Intelligence Observer Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati assessed the importance of conducting a number of dialogues to resolve the Papuan issue.
The woman who is familiarly called Nuning thinks that Papua is slightly different in handling because they are separatists. As compared to Moro separatism in the Philippines, Pattani separatism in Thailand and Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia.
Even in Indonesia, one can compare how the government had to eradicate rebellions by APRA, PRRI, RMS and others. All successfully extinguished in different timeframes. We all hope that Papuan separatism can be immediately extinguished based on national law and international law.
The existence of KST in Papua with all its evil actions so far has certainly created an endless sense of fear for local residents. It is not wrong for Papuans to become inflamed and express their jealousy towards their countrymen and fellow countrymen in other areas who are allowed to enjoy the dynamics of normal life without fear from the sudden attack from KST.
Burning schools, burning health centers, shooting civilians and security forces are some of the actions of KST that cannot be tolerated. After all, the people of Papua and West Papua have the right to feel safe and comfortable while in Papua.
If all this time KST has stated that they are fighting to release Papua from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, this action only makes people afraid, in fact civilians have become victims of violence and shootings.
KST often hides behind human rights when the security forces carry out their duties, but in reality KST also has weapons that are often used to threaten the innocent Papuan people.
The existence of KST is like a parasite that destroys the sense of unity that has been formed. They continuously campaigned for independence but it turned out that they were only being used by the interests of a handful of people.
The group that often hides behind the name of human rights has actually been proven to have committed human rights violations. The reason is that they actually carried out an attack in the form of shooting at joint security personnel in the mosque area while securing the Tarawih prayer.
The incident occurred on March 25 2023, in Ilu District, Puncak Jaya Regency, Highlands Papua Province, namely at the Al Amaliah Mosque.
The shooting was carried out by 2 KST people with 2 different weapons, 1 rifle and 1 rifle.
Regarding the shooting incident that was carried out by KST Papua at the joint apparatus, the Head of Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police revealed that there were 3 victims in which two of them died.
The Head of Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police, Kombes Pol Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo explained the chronology of the shootings. He explained that the incident began when joint officers from the TNI and Polri were carrying out security.
When the joint officers were carrying out security for community tarawih worship activities, suddenly they immediately received shots. According to Kombes Benny, the shots aimed at the joint apparatus came from the front of one of the kiosks at the scene.
Kombes Benny added that there was a member of the Ilu Police named Bripda Mesak Indey who was shot in the stomach and also died. Meanwhile, another victim who was conscious, namely Police Brigadier M. Arif Hidayat, was hit by a gunshot wound in the thigh.
KST’s brutal actions must be eliminated, they often hide in the name of human rights, but in reality they often carry out anarchic acts that make the Papuan people have no sympathy for KST.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Makassar