By : Rebecca Marian )*
Again, the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) acted violently by burning the houses of Papuans. The community immediately criticized KST’s actions for violating human rights and destroying other people’s property. They hope that KST will be arrested soon so as not to disturb security in Papua.
Papua is famous for its natural exoticism and the beauty of tourist attractions such as Raja Ampat and Puncak Jayawijaya. However, Papua is also known for negative things, namely Separatist and Terrorist Groups (formerly known as armed criminal groups). Therefore, the government is trying to erase the bad image by eradicating KST.
KST is again acting up by burning 2 residents’ houses in the Gome District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua. Among these incidents, 1 housing unit owned by Ilaga residents and 1 teacher housing unit were burned. The commander of Korem 173 Praja Vira Braja, Brig.
Brig. They also aim to distort the facts, as if the security forces carried out the arson and this is completely untrue.
Currently Korem 173/Praja Vira Braja and its personnel who are there have been pursuing and identifying the positions of the Jelek Waker and Numbuk Telenggen KST groups. In addition, TNI soldiers also continue to carry out routine patrols with the National Police and as much as possible create conditions that are conducive and safe so that people can carry out their activities normally.
The community condemned KST’s brutal actions which burned residents’ houses. If the house is burned, there is fear of loss of life. KST has gone too far because it causes loss to the community even though those who own the house are both native Papuans.
When there is an attack that ends in arson, of course the losers are the civilians. The public immediately criticized this action because KST always riots and harms other people, deliberately setting fire to residents’ houses. How much material loss do they have to bear?
The people of Papua have always had antipathy towards KST because this is not the only time they have carried out an attack. Suidah many times they throw tantrums, and quite a lot of victims. Starting from students, teachers, to health workers, all died as a result of attacks from KST members.
Therefore, the community supports the arrest of KST members, because they always disturb residents. They are even determined to take the lives of their own tribesmen, so they have crossed the line and violated human rights. If you really want to free yourself, why harm others?
There is no community that supports KST’s actions because they are a criminal and terrorist organization, and often commit crimes. If there is still a KST entrenched in Papua, then peace has not materialized.
This is not the first time that residents have burned houses because in November 2021 they also carried it out in the Intan Jaya area. In fact, there were casualties. The community hopes that this tragic incident will not be repeated and there will be an increasingly massive eradication of KST.
Meanwhile, Deputy V KSP Jaleswari Pramodhawardani stated that the security of residents there (around the fire location) is the government’s responsibility. In a sense, the atmosphere is conducive and they are expected to return, so that the people also feel safe and are no longer displaced.
The central government will not compromise with KST. The attack they carried out was believed to be just a bluff. The government will not give up Papua and they failed to establish the Federal Republic of West Papua, only because of the terror from KST.
So far KST and OPM have not been eradicated 100% because they acted sneakily, hiding in the middle of mountains and wild forests. Natural factors that are difficult to pass, causing the arrest to be incomplete. However, the authorities acted in their best way so that KST could be eradicated and Earth of Cendrawasih would be safe again.
KST eradication must be carried out, because they have carried out various actions beyond the limits. Apart from setting fires, KST also took pilots and their passengers hostage, and also threatened them not to transport members of the TNI or Polri. The airplane passengers were also suspected of being officers, even though they were ordinary civilians.
KST had too many gunfights. The victims ranged from state-owned cars carrying logistics, civilians who lost their lives, to security officers who were shot after performing morning prayers. all their atrocities made KST even more hated because they had the heart to shoot their own tribesmen, and they accused the victim of being apart, even though it wasn’t.
To eradicate KST, it is necessary to carry out more intensive field operations. Not only in conflict-prone areas such as Intan Jaya, but also in other areas, starting from Jayapura, Fakfak, to Merauke. There is still the potential for riots caused by KST, therefore it is better if the number of officers on guard continues to be increased.
The Papuan people condemned KST’s brutal act of burning residents’ houses and this is the second time this has happened. Because of that they hate KST even more and want this separatist group to be eradicated, so that the whole of Papua is always safe.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
