By: Ahsan Zoelva *)
Papua, CIDISS – Bumi Cendrawasih cried again. Tuesday, 15th of March 2016, five civilians were shot by a group of unidentified people (OTK). The shot killed four people, while the rest managed to escape. When they were shot by, they were doing such a noble task: build trans Papua road that connect the Ilaga District (Puncak Regency) with Mulia District (Puncak Jaya Regency). Yes, a noble task, because the trans Papua that they were about to built is the key to improving the welfare of people living in Puncak Regency and Puncak Jaya Regency.
Until Thursday, 17th of March 2016, police could not determine who was behind the heinous attack yet. However, one thing is certain: the assailant group is such a heinous, savage, and did not fight for the sake of the people of Papua. By looking at patterns and targets of the attack, it is clear that the assailant had two major objectives. First, spread terror to cornered the government, especially the Central Government. Second, hamper the development process in Papua, which is currently being encouraged by the government. The two objectives are very “evil and heinous”, which is clearly immolating the interests and welfare of the people of Papua.
However, it seems that the attack towards the civilian obtains the desired results by the perpetrators. At least, it was reflected in the emergence of responses in a variety of media, especially at social media. When all of the Indonesian people in mourning, there are a number of people that appeared to blame the government for the tragedy. They are accused, the attack can not be separated from government action that never consider the interests of the people of Papua. Clearly defined, that the elements of this vile want to show that in every case of violence in Papua, which has always been a “antagonist” is the government while the people of Papua are both “the protagonist” and “the victim”. Between government and society, appeared armed criminal groups which is positioned as a “hero that standing up for the victim”. This kind of patterns always been echoed, no matter who are the casualties.
In fact, anyone can judge that the attack and violence which have occurred in Papua is a manifestation of the interests of a few certain elements who do not want to see the people of Papua advanced and prosperous. Moreover, there are big possibilities that some kind of foreign interference was deliberately to “keep” the conflict in Papua. Papua is a province rich in natural resources, so obviously that there are so many foreigners who have interests in there.
The conflict of interests of various parties in Papua in the end only add complexity problems in Papua. In the end, the people of Papua will e the victim and get suffered from the impact. In fact, the existing problems in Papua actually lies in the stagnation of prosperous and development of people. Supposedly, all elements of society, especially in Papua, have to working together to manage the existing resources, especially the funds of Otonomi Khusus that has given by the central government. Thus, the people of Papua developed and prosperous not only longer just a dream. [AZ]
*) CIDISS Contributor
