By : Alvaro Hukubun )*
So far, the government has continued to develop Papua so that the region will be more developed, and there will be no inequality with other regions in western Indonesia. However, there is one obstacle in development, namely the existence of separatist and terrorist groups (KST). KST terrors are becoming more and more common and they are a source of conflict in society, therefore they must be eradicated.
The existence of KST is a common enemy because it has hurt the Papuan people too often. They make civilians miserable because they attack indiscriminately. Not only ordinary people, but the security forces were also shot. KST must be eradicated because it also hampers development in Cendrawasih Earth.
KST eradication continues to be carried out to secure the community. Residents’ safety is prioritized because they have been proven repeatedly to carry out attacks. Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Faakhiri stated that January – June 2023, as many as 17 people, died as a result of the KST attack. The details are 10 civilians, 6 TNI personnel, and 1 Polri personnel. The injured victims were 26 residents consisting of 19 civilians, 5 TNI personnel and 2 Polri personnel.
Inspector General Mathius continued, security disturbances by KST were still homework for the Papua Police. The large number of KST victims forced the Papua Police to move quickly to maximize law enforcement efforts to overcome this security disturbance.
The violence perpetrated by KST was condemned by society. This is considered a crime against humanity which cannot be justified in any name. Moreover, the objects of massacre were mostly civilians, who even under the laws of war (humanitarian law) are forbidden to attack and fight against.
Then, KST also hampers development progress in Papua. They are sabotaging infrastructure development in Papua, one of which is by terrorizing workers working on the Trans Papua Road project.
Finally, in order to finish the project quickly, the workers were escorted by security forces. This road is not completely finished and the KST attack is hampering the construction of important infrastructure in Papua.
Even though the Trans Papua Road is very important for the mobility of the Papuan people, and must be completed until 100% finished. If there is a KST attack, the construction will be unscheduled and detrimental, and the funds needed will be even greater. Both the government and the Papuan people will be harmed by KST.
Meanwhile, Head of the University of Indonesia’s Terrorism Study Program Muhammad Syauqillah assessed that the series of terror acts by armed criminal groups would continue to hinder the development of people’s welfare in Papua. Even though the people need to see what the future of Papua’s development will be like in the future.
Syauqillah continued, these conditions have added to the urgency of handling the KST problem, especially in the midst of the government’s incessant infrastructure development for the welfare of Papua. The acts of terror carried out by KST are not in line with the Papuan development framework which is actually intended for the Papuan people themselves.
This means that when development stalls, in the long term it will have an impact on the welfare of the Papuan people. For example, access roads from one region to another. At least the Papuan people, with the acts of violence that occurred in Papua, are of course the Papuan people who are affected. The Papuan people or anyone in Papua will be negatively affected.
Meanwhile, investigations are currently underway into alleged corruption of the Special Autonomy funds by former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe. Luke’s case is still in the process of investigation and has not been completed. The amount of the corrupted Special Autonomy Fund is also still being investigated.
The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated that the Special Autonomy funds provided by the government were more than Rp. 1,000 trillion (since 2002), but only half of which was distributed for community empowerment and development in Papua.
Allegedly, apart from being enjoyed by Lukas Enembe (for personal needs), part of the Special Autonomy funds was also channeled to support KST. The separatist group used the flow of funds for logistics and to buy firearms.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of DPD RI Sultan B Najamudin stated that the leak of the Papua Special Autonomy funds enjoyed by KST must be assessed as a mode of budget abuse which is actually enjoyed by criminal groups which is troubling the community and the government. He also supports that there be an investigation into the corruption case of the Special Autonomy funds.
Cases of misuse of the Special Autonomy funds that were channeled to KST are still being investigated and evidence and witnesses are being collected. The government is not standing still, but is working with the BPK (Financial Audit Board), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police, and other parties to find out the nominal amount of the corrupted funds. The accounts must also be blocked so that they are not misused to support KST activities.
KST became a source of conflict in society and their attacks resulted in many victims, both civilians and security forces. They hinder Papua’s development because they attack infrastructure projects, even though they are very useful for the community. Therefore the Papuan people support the eradication of KST, also requesting that the corruption case in the Special Autonomy Fund, part of which went to KST, be resolved.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
