By: Rebecca Marian )*
The issue of the celebration of the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) began to emerge ahead of December 1. However, this issue is only considered by a small number of people in Papua because the majority of Papuans reject the existence of separatist groups who often afflict the community and hamper development.
The Free Papua Organization (OPM) is not actually fighting on behalf of Papua. They are only a handful of people who claim to be Papua, but are actually being used by other people or people with foreign interests, and demand separation from the Republic of Indonesia.
The celebration of OPM’s birthday has also been rejected by the Papuan people, one of them is from the Chairperson of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) of the Yapen Islands, Mika Runaweri, his party has ensured that in his area there was no OPM anniversary celebration held on December 1.
He even mentioned that in Yapen, he did not recognize the celebration. YPIP KNPI ensured it would refuse if there was an invitation to celebrate December 1.
Mika also said that young people and people in the Yapen Islands had lived in comfort and peace. As a good citizen. Appropriately can create a good situation so that there are no activities that unsettle the general public.
According to mika, as a native of Papua it must be involved in development within the NKRI Frame. Of course this is in line with the sentence that is often thrown by Ir Soekarno, where in a few speeches Bung Karno often said my brothers from Sabang to Merauke.
The opening speech is certainly an authentic proof that Papua is an area of Indonesia that must be maintained to remain part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
Mika believes that currently there is no need to make things that are not important, what must be done right now is to foster youths as the next generation of the nation so that they will become Papuan children who excel and be proud of the wider community.
The KNPI of the Yapen archipelago also invites the public, especially indigenous Papuans, not to be provoked by unclear activities, especially those that can trigger conflict and oppose the state ideology.
Meanwhile, to anticipate a conflict in early December 2019, Jayapura City Police have mapped three areas prone to security disturbances on December 1, commonly known as the Anniversary of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
The Jayapura City Police Public Relations Sub-Division Head, Iptu Jahja Rumra said that the three areas were Heram District, Abepura District and North Jayapura District.
To anticipate this vulnerability, the Complete Small Unit Team (UKL) will intensely promote patrols to create conditions that involve all functions.
Not only that, so that security is more optimal, Jayapura City Police also conducts community leaders or opposing groups through the Binmas function.
Meanwhile, the Papua Regional Police are also anticipating security ahead of December 1. The Papua Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, said that he had received information related to a number of groups that would celebrate December 1 with a joint prayer.
Paul said, there are rules that must be met in expressing opinions in public, including in praying together. If it does not follow the applicable rules, then it will dissolve it.
Papuans in general must remain vigilant. Papua Province Regional Secretary Hery Dosinaen claims that by December 1, many persons had certain interests.
Of course the government will continue to ban demonstrations that could have an anarchic effect. Hery added that so far the separatist issue cannot be separated from the game of provocateurs to create horizontal and vertical friction.
The OPM movement also needs to be watched out for, because they are not reluctant to hold the public hostage to the police. As happened on August 12, 2019, the hostage of Brigadier Heidar which led to the death of the police officer who was on guard was due to the actions of an armed criminal group led by one of the senior OPM generals, namely Goliat Tabuni.
Goliath himself is not a new figure in the Papua conflict. He is already well-known for carrying out attacks on the authorities and often intimidating residents into supporting the OPM movement.
It is also possible that OPM and its wing organizations will create a riot in their anniversary. Like provocation on social media for example.
Therefore, we still have to unite to protect the homeland and not be afraid of anyone who wants to tear the unity of the Indonesian people apart. Because Guarding Papua is Guarding Indonesia.
)* The writer is a Papuan student living in Jakarta