By: Jeremiah Kagoya )*
The racist issue used by separatists to voice secession from Indonesia was opposed by the old community. Separation is considered a fabricated idea because Papua is an integral part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. One of the supports came from the people of Makassar.
Lately we are being faced with the problems of Papua that are currently crowded. Chaotic due to the issue of persecution that befell Papuan students in Surabaya marked the beginning of riots in the demonstration in Jayapura and surrounding areas. The high news regarding the separation of Papua from Indonesia seems to be an interesting topic to be investigated.
Although the perpetrators of racism have now been dealt with firmly, but the incident that day at least still left a wound that never healed. Injuries due to discrimination of race, ethnicity and religion, which is actually a classic problem. Not only now, since the announcement of the results of the Pepera session, many parties were pros and cons. However, the decision has been hammered, the results have been fixed and final without being contested.
The endorsement of the Act of Free Choice which states that Papua is an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia has been witnessed and approved by the UN directly and friendly countries. The most important thing is that the people of Papua have declared themselves to always be a part and fight with the Republic of Indonesia.
A flood of support related to this also came from the Young Indonesian Interfaith Exponent (EMLI). He said if Papua was an inseparable part of the Republic of Indonesia. Viktus Murin as the Secretary of EMLI also explained that Papua had become an integral part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, based on the principle of uti possident juris.
Although it was once a Dutch colony, since Indonesian independence was proclaimed, Papua has officially become part of the archipelago. Viktus again reminded that the earth of Paradise was reaffirmed to the lap of the motherland, through the Act of Free Choice. Which results have been approved by the United Nations in resolution number 2504 (XXIV).
Viktus also stated that the Act of Free Choice had a legal basis for the 1962 New York Bilateral Agreement. However, it was not the eleventh chapter that contained the self determination of the UN Charter. Which must be interpreted as a solution to the conflict between Indonesia and the Netherlands. Unlike the case with the East Timor region which has its basis in Chapter XI.
Although the Netherlands has tried, the result is that Papua has never been included in the Non Self Government Territory or NGST list. This means, with or without the Act of Free Choice, Papua remains an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia.
The same thing was done by the people of Makassar who are members of the Alliance of Children of the Nation Love NKRI. They called for Papua to be one body with the Republic of Indonesia, in a demonstration at the Mandala Monument to liberate Western envy. The mass gave speeches and also unfurled the Red and White flag.
Arqam Azikin as an academic took part in giving speeches. He shouted builder sentences such as “Don’t Try to separate Papua from the NKRI Frame, Papua Is our brother, Papua is red and white!
According to him, if we examine again the value of the struggle of this nation has a big role. We also need to respect the fighters who died in Papua to defend the Homeland. And until now there are still many members of the TNI and Polri who maintain Papua to remain conducive.
Arqam hopes that in the future racist issues will not occur again as well as various provocations. In addition he also appealed to all people everywhere, not to be incited by left-wing groups. Which only wants to make Indonesia divided.
Meksi is tightly guarded, there are other activities in the middle of the demonstration, they distribute leaflets to road users who pass. The leaflet contains several statement points which include; Strong rejection of the efforts to fight sheep and provocation through racist issues. Ensure the security of all Papuan students in the Makassar area. And strongly reject the efforts of Papua’s disintegration, because the Earth of Paradise is an integral part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, legal, final and inseparable.
Seeing the sense of solidarity shown by the people of Indonesia in order to support the position of Papua even stronger needs to be appreciated. These various supports are also strong evidence that Papuans and Indonesians are of one heart, because they are trying to maintain the integrity of the state within the frame of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
Hopefully the issue of racism that has a negative effect will be able to get rid of by the togetherness of all Indonesian citizens to fight it. Thus, the continuity of a safe, peaceful and peaceful life will still be realized.
)* The writer is a Papuan student living in Jakarta