By: Serlina Wayar
OPM often intensifies provocation, as one of the powerful political tools, they often use it to influence public opinion and create a false perception. In Bumi Cenderawasih, the Free Papua Movement (OPM) or separatist groups from Papua often use provocation as a weapon to corner the government.
The main goal of this group is to shake the public’s trust in the government and create instability in the Little Heaven That Fell to Earth. Therefore, it is important for the public and the government to work together in facing this dangerous provocation in order to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.
One of the latest examples of provocation spread by this separatist group is their claim regarding the release of the Susi Air pilot who was kidnapped by a troublemaking group in Papua.
Head of Public Relations of the Cartenz 2024 Peace Operation, Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, emphasized that he strongly doubted the claims made by the terrorist group. According to him, the OPM’s statement about the release of the pilot was nothing more than an attempt to distort the facts on the ground and gain public sympathy.
In this case, OPM tried to take advantage of the crisis situation to highlight their strength, even though in reality, the pilot’s release operation was still under the full control of the security forces.
Such attempts to distort the facts are nothing new for the separatist groups that are enemies of the state. These groups have long used provocative tactics to create confusion among the public and accuse the government of actions that did not actually occur.
Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Senior Commissioner Pol. Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, highlighted that OPM often spreads information that does not correspond to the reality on the ground.
On various occasions, this group of troublemakers in Papua deliberately spread lies to create a bad impression of the government, even though their main goal is to disrupt the situation and damage public trust in the security forces.
This kind of provocation is certainly very dangerous, especially if it is accepted raw by the public. Therefore, it is important for all parties to always verify the information received and not be easily influenced by news that is not clear about its truth.
In this context, collective vigilance becomes very important to counter disinformation efforts spread by separatist groups. Terrorist groups that are enemies of the state such as OPM try to exploit every gap in society to increase their influence, especially by spreading destructive and divisive narratives.
However, behind the various provocation efforts carried out by the OPM, there are still many local figures in Papua who firmly reject the narrative spread by this group. One of them is the Papua Tabi Youth Figure, Paul Ohee, who consistently strongly opposes all forms of provocation launched by separatist groups.
Ohee stated that the provocations spread by the troublemaking groups in Papua were completely baseless and only aimed to threaten the unity and integrity of the nation. For him, the actions carried out by the OPM were nothing more than an attempt to create chaos and prolong the conflict in Papua.
The Papuan people themselves actually realize how detrimental the OPM’s actions are to the future of their region. This group not only threatens security, but also hinders development carried out by the government to improve the quality of life of the people in Bumi Cenderawasih.
By using provocation, OPM tries to thwart various development programs that have been implemented by the government, as if they were saviors who fight for the rights of the Papuan people. In fact, their actions actually bring suffering and instability.
In dealing with OPM provocation, the government is not working alone. Security forces in the field, both from the TNI, Polri and BIN, continue to coordinate with the community to build awareness of the dangers of inaccurate information.
The involvement of local communities in countering provocations is crucial, as they are the ones who know the true conditions in their region best. When Papuans have a clear understanding of the true goals of separatist groups, they will be more difficult to be influenced by false narratives spread by these groups.
In addition, it is also important to strengthen access to credible information in Papua. The government and local media have a great responsibility in conveying accurate and balanced facts to the public.
With a reliable source of information, the public will have a strong basis for assessing any issues that develop in their area. This will help prevent the spread of hoaxes and lies designed by separatist groups to create distrust of the government.
Ultimately, efforts to counter OPM provocation cannot be done by just one party. It requires cooperation from all elements of society, including traditional leaders, youth, and security forces, to jointly create awareness of the dangers of disinformation.
The government also needs to continue to improve development programs in Papua so that the community feels the positive impact of the state’s presence in their region. With equitable development and community involvement, the narrative built by separatist groups will lose its appeal.
Countering OPM provocations is an important part of maintaining stability in this Little Paradise that Fell to Earth. Collective vigilance, access to credible information, and strong cooperation between the government, security forces, and the community will ensure that Papua remains peaceful and is protected from disintegration efforts. Only together can the dangerous provocations of this troublemaking group in the Land of Papua be countered and eliminated from the public space.
*) The author is a student in Makassar from Papua