By: Rani Kumala *)
Some allegation are used by the Papuan Separatist Group which lead by Benny Wenda with their collegue to internationalization the human rights issues in Papua. Last March, the charges against the military and police have recently documented through reports Catholic Diocese Brisbane, which says Papuans beaten, intimidated, tortured, abducted and even killed in Papua. This issue has long been used to discredit the Indonesian government.
The report also noted that the presence of Muslim radicalization efforts in a province with a Christian dominant, wherein Muslim militiamen said to actively burn the houses of the Papuans. The contents of this report compiled by Shadow Human Rights Fact Finding Mission to West Papua formed by Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, following their visit to Papua last month.
The facts mentioned in the report is contrary to the truth. The Indonesian military presence in Papua is very reasonable and obligatory. It is very useful to help the security and sovereignty of the Homeland. There is a report that accused the Australian Government organizations may be considered a negative stigma foreign establishment.
The other interesting thing in this report which states that the Papuans are now marginalized economically caused the majority of immigrants are Muslims. Indirectly, this report accusing Muslim immigrants causing misery to the Papuans. This report is inciting and spreading hatred among religious communities in Papua. The issue is sensitive enough to turn the conflict as Tolikara events. They are marginalized Indonesian society through religion.
Brisbane Catholic Diocese report is hypocritical accusations are unfounded. They should reflect on the situation in their own country. Australia is a country located in the Pacific, also have people who are ethnically Melanesian. In Australia, they are called by the Aborigines. The worse thing happens to them. Very much different to the Indonesian people who are ethnically Melanesian, Aboriginal Australian government is not even recognized as citizens. A very long process in the recognition of Aboriginal rights to be equal with other citizens.
This is very clearly illustrated that there are vested interests in an attempt secessionism with human rights issues. How could they so aggressively accused of human rights violations in other countries to twist the facts, but the human rights violations in his own country is not echoed in the international world. This could definitely be one of the weapons if our government was accused of human rights violations, even offense that never happened. Government and the public is also not to be provoked by issues invalid vigorous to convey.
*) Author is student in Cendrawasih University
