The Government is Optimal in Investigating Alleged Human Rights Violations in Papua
By: Rebecca Marian) *
Allegations of human rights violations in Papua have been highlighted by the international community. The government tries to explain that what is accused of being a human rights case is a case of separatism. So that when the perpetrator is arrested, this effort becomes commonplace because the perpetrator is guilty of violating state sovereignty.
Papua is a region in Indonesia that is relatively frequently highlighted, because of the separatists who want to establish their own state. Even though in the era of President Jokowi’s administration, there was a very rapid acceleration of development. The modernity of Papua is considered equal to that of other regions in Western Indonesia.
This progress is rarely highlighted by foreign media. Unfortunately, in international forums, what has been violated are cases of human rights violations. The entire Indonesian community was furious when foreigners accused the government of depriving Papuans of their right to express their opinions in public. Because they see the problem only from one side.
The Vanuatu representatives had the most widespread accusations, which accused the government of wrongdoing. The reason was that many demonstrators were arrested by the authorities. Even though the police did not take the law into their own hands, because these people supported an independent Papua and were flying the Morning Star flag. So that they are considered committing treason.
Foreign media need to examine that activists are not being arrested for human rights silencing or cases of racism. However, this arrest was because they carried the OPM flag, thus proving pro-separatist. Do the authorities allow their citizens to be disloyal to the state and influence others to do so? The answer is of course not.
Cases of human rights violations in Cendrawasih Earth are only accusations from those who do not understand the situation. The former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs General (Purn) Wiranto explained that of the 12 cases of human rights violations in Papua, after further investigation, they were mixed with criminal cases.
If the matter is criminal, it cannot be considered a human rights violation. How could the state defend thieves? The prison could be empty. Foreign parties should not arbitrarily accuse many human rights abuses in Papua, because they only read the news and do not go directly to Bumi Cendrawasih to confirm.
Wiranto continued, the investigation of cases of human rights violations often fails because there is no coordination between the victims’ families and the authorities. Because on average they don’t want an autopsy on the body. So it is not clear whether this is a pure human rights violation or a criminal case.
The Papuan people are also surprised when other parties get angry and accuse the government of violating human rights. Due to the fact, the news that reaches the international world is sometimes only based on hearsay. For example, when a religious leader was shot, the officers were accused. Whereas armed criminal groups also hold pistols, and they are the ones who slander.
Allegations of human rights violations in Cendrawasih Earth were also raised by those who support an independent Papua. Why are they meddling in the internal affairs of other countries? Due to the fact, Indonesia did not colonize the people of Cendrawasih Earth. Instead, those who voluntarily became Indonesian citizens were based on the results of pepera (determination of people’s opinion).
Many parties are shaking up this case because in Papua there are copper and gold mines, so they are targeted. Human rights violations are only a cover for the establishment of the Federal Republic of West Papua. Don’t let a puppet president there who is controlled by irresponsible people who want to exploit the natural wealth of the Cendrawasih Earth.
People are asked not to panic when there are allegations of human rights violations in Papua. Because the government is always fair and investigates each case thoroughly. In fact, what is called a human rights violation is actually a crime or a case of separatism. So it is only natural that the perpetrators are put in jail.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta