By : Rebecca Marian )*
Christmas celebrations must go on safely and peacefully. Christians who want to celebrate Christmas must, of course, feel safe from various disturbances, including disturbances from the Papuan separatist terrorist group (KST).
To foster a sense of security and peace, the Special Yonif Raider 136/TS Organic Task Force together with GKI SION Church administrators and the people of Kumurlek Village, Maybrat, West Papua held a Santa Claus and Santa Claus carnival around the village in welcoming the 2022 Christmas celebration.
In a written statement, the Yonif RK 136/TS Task Force, Dansatgas Lt. Col. Inf Andi Ariyanto SIP said that the activity with the theme “Jalan Santaklaus” was a series in welcoming Christmas 2022 in the Maybrat area. Where Santa Claus approached and visited residents’ homes to distribute gifts to children and residents around Kumurkek and Susumuk villages.
This activity is of course a manifestation of the concern of the GKI SION Church Task Force and management for customs and religious tolerance in the Maybrat area. As well as a means of conveying messages of peace, as a form of tolerance the Kotis Kumurkek Task Force Post also made a Christmas tree and miniature sheep houses.
This activity is a form of synergy and togetherness of all components of society within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia to provide a sense of security for the people in the Maybrat area.
The hope is that this activity can provide a sense of security and comfort in carrying out worship activities and major religious activities this December.
Seprianus Assem, S.Si as the pastor of the GKI SION Church said he was happy and proud of the participation of the Yonif RK 136/TS Task Force which had supported and participated in the carnival activities.
Of course what the security forces are doing will provide a sense of security for the people in Papua, the majority of whom will celebrate Christmas.
On a different occasion, the District Government of Biak Numfor, Papua, invites Christians to celebrate Christmas with peace and simplicity as a family.
Deputy Regent of Biak Numfor Calvin Mansnembra advised the people of Biak to maintain the good spirit of mutual religious tolerance.
By respecting each other and upholding tolerance between religious communities, Calvin hopes that the life of the Biak Numfor people will be realized in a safe, peaceful, harmonious and conducive way.
He also appealed to the people of Biak Numfor to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages as long as Christians welcome Christmas and New Year 2023.
Meanwhile, the threat from the Papuan Separatist Terrorist Group (KST) also needs to be watched out for. The Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo explained that in December there would be an escalation or increase in attacks by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in the Papua region.
According to him, this increase occurred because in December there was an independence anniversary for the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
Dedi also asked the ranks of the Polres and Polda in Papua to increase their vigilance against KKB attacks.
Meanwhile, General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the National Police Chief emphasized that the escalation of the KKB attack at the end of this year needs special attention for the Police.
Therefore, Sigit gave a special task to the team that is part of the Cartenz Damai Task Force to anticipate attacks and carry out security in the Papua region.
It is known, in December 2022, the attack launched by KST resulted in the death of 5 civilians.
This is of course a concern for the security forces in Papua to maintain the security of the community from terror threats that often come suddenly from members of the KST.
As an anticipatory step, the Nduga Police Chief AKBP Rio Alexander Penelewen, SIK. Accompanied by the Head of Ops for the Nduga Police, Iptu Bayu Pratama Sudirno with the Preventive Task Force and the Cartenz Peace Ops Action Task Force.
Rio said, ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Polri personnel on duty in Nduga would increase their preparedness by increasing patrols in a number of areas considered to be vulnerable points for disruptions to the Papuan KKB.
The patrol will involve the ranks of the Nduga Police and the Cartenz Damai Ops Task Force along the road that connects the Kenyam District and the Krepkuri District.
The Police Chief added that apart from anticipating the threat of disruption to the KST Papua, the patrols were also a form of the security forces’ show force , especially the police, which showed the public that the police were present in society.
The hope is that with this patrol, goods transport drivers and traders will feel safe when they want to cross the road. Apart from that, it also indirectly narrows the movement space for the Papuan KKB considering that they often cross this road.
KST maneuvers, of course, should be watched out for with various preventive steps that can narrow the space for KST. Ahead of Christmas and New Year, all Christians have the right to celebrate Christmas peacefully, safely and without terror disturbances that could threaten the safety of society.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
