Separatist and Terrorist groups (KST) in Papua continue to carry out provocations and seek sympathy to justify their heinous actions, including by using foreign media. The public is advised not to be influenced and reject the provocations of the mob.
In 2020, foreign media had highlighted the efforts to declare the interim government of West Papua where Benny Wenda declared himself the President of West Papua. The declaration coincided with the OPM anniversary.
Foreign media highlighted this as a declaration effort towards the release of the West Papua region from the Indonesian government. At that time, Benny Wenda had said that the status of the temporary government meant that West Papua Province would not submit to Indonesia.
In early May 2021, there were rumors that Internet services in the provincial capital of Papua, Indonesia had been cut off, in line with the increasing military operations in West Papua. The news was apparently written by New Zealand Media rnz.co.nz reporting that the telecommunications company PT Telkom Indonesia ensured that Internet services in Jayapura were disrupted on Friday night.
It is said that the disturbance was due to the disconnection of the Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua cable system on the Biak-Sarmi route. Of course, these foreign media should be wary of, especially if they do not understand the issues in Indonesia and are then led by the opinion that KST is touting who wants to declare separation from Indonesia.
Previously, foreign media had also highlighted Papuan demands for a referendum. One of the foreign media reporting on the development of the riots in Papua is the well-known British media, Reuters. Even Reuters has highlighted the “change of direction” of protests from some Papuans asking for a referendum from the Indonesian government
In his article entitled Protest In Indonesia’s Papua Spotligjt Deman for Independence Referendum. The British media wrote how thousands of Papuans still continued a series of demonstrations in several areas in Papua.
Reuters also underlined that the protests, which erupted over ethnic discrimination issues, sparked demands for the government for a referendum. In its reporting, Reuters also described how the Morning Star flag was raised for 1 to 1.5 hours. However, Reuters added Yosep’s testimony which claimed that the Papuan protests at that time were peaceful.
Although Reuters cites Yosep’s confession related to the peaceful atmosphere of the demonstration, in the following paragraphs, this London-based media shows different facts from the coverage of one of the human rights lawyers, Veronica Koman.
To corroborate its report on Papuans’ demands for a referendum, Reuters also quoted Lieutenant Colonel Imam Hariyadi as saying that the authorities had actually investigated five soldiers who were involved in incidents of racist remarks against Papuan students in East Java, but that some of the demonstrations had escalated into Papuan referendum demands.
Not only that, Reuters also wrote the words of the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe who seemed to tell the public that the request for a referendum is the right of the Papuan people. Of course, this should make us more aware of news that is not necessarily true.
We need to know that the UN has rejected the Papuan referendum plan, and decided that Papua and West Papua are an inviolable part of Indonesia. The decision was conveyed by the Ambassador/permanent representative of Indonesia to the United Nations (UN) Dian Triansyah Djani in Geneva.
The decision was made during the public debate of the candidate for the member of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Indonesia received a number of questions regarding the Papuan referendum from various sources. In addition, the United Nations also supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia and the territorial integrity of Indonesia and the issue of sovereignty is not a question of the status of the United Nations.
The United Nations also understands that there are separatist groups who constantly make hoax news and anarchist demonstrations and acts of violence. He also reminded the public that the police could still restrain themselves so as not to cause a bad impact and make it difficult for the government.
However, we can start the hoax news by conveying the rules of international law, which explain that based on international law, referendums can only be conducted in the context of colonialism, or related areas are included in the list of guardianship and non-self-governing territories released by the United Nations.
Foreign media are certainly very easy to report about what they see in the field, so we need to be critical if there is news that states support for the liberation of West Papua. The public is also expected to be critical of various developing information, including foreign media in order to maintain the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
Rebeca Marian, the writer is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
