By: Timothy Gobay
The Papuan Terrorist Separatist Group (KST) has returned to action and continues to spread threats and terror to the people of Papua. They also did not hesitate to fight against the officers who were on guard. The community also condemns the brutality of the gang and supports firm action against KST Papua.
After taking the Susi Air pilot hostage, they also shot at the security forces who were on guard at the mosque while the residents were performing the Tarawih prayers. Not only that, they also opened fire on TNI members causing these personnel to die on the field with a gunshot wound to the head.
Some time ago, KST took Philip Mark Mahrtrens, a New Zealand national Susi Air pilot, as hostage. Regarding this, the Head of the Enforcement and Capability Development Division of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Inspector General of Police Ibnu Suhendra emphasized that the hostage taking carried out by KST Papua on Pilot Susi Air was an act of terrorism. The reason is that KST Papua not only took hostages after they attacked and burned the Susi Air plane, they also demanded independence by threatening to kill the pilot if the demands they offered were not met.
This clearly shows that the methods used by KST Papua are actions that are synonymous with acts of terrorism. Indeed, the terror network operating in Indonesian territory at this time is indeed using a strategy to continue to instill fear in the public as a way to achieve their goals.
Inspector General of Police Ibnu Suhendra said handling acts of terrorism certainly requires systematic, measurable and coordinated efforts so that the problem can be resolved properly. Ibnu added, that terrorism is a very complex problem and cannot be handled haphazardly. There is an ideology that must be fought where this is the root of the problem that must be resolved.
Referring to Law Number 5 of 2018, of course what KST has done is a crime of terrorism, where there is an element of hostage-taking. With this very dilemmatic condition, of course, a solution must be found as soon as possible.
Apart from taking the Susi Air pilot hostage, the TNI apparatus also received gunfire from KST while securing the Tarawih prayer service in Puncak Jaya Regency. As a result of the attack, 2 out of 3 people died. Those who were shot were Serda Riswar and Bripda Mesak Indey. Serda Riswar suffered gunshot wounds to the spine and lower chin, while Bripda Mesak was injured in the abdomen. While one other personnel, namely Brigadier M Arif Hidayat, suffered a gunshot wound in the thigh.
The incident occurred at 20.00 WIT, where an unknown person suddenly carried out the attack. The attack is known to have come from behind the mosque. The shooter is also not known from which group.
Of course, the heinous actions carried out by KST Papua must be stopped and they must be arrested to get legal consequences from the court. With a firm commitment from the security forces, it is hoped that peace in Papua will return and sustainable development will soon be realized.
Some of those who rioted have been included in the DPO, due to several cases, such as burning schools, residential areas and community killings. The cases are also getting worse, so that it is included in the violation of Human Rights (HAM). In fact, KST’s brutal actions continued to cause casualties, both from civilians and security forces.
Previously, Mahfud MD as Coordinating Minister (Menko) Law and Security (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said that enforcement of KST needed to be done, because the group had damaged harmony in the midst of societal peace.
This was also Mahfud MD’s response to accusations from a church organization which stated that the government had never responded to requests for dialogue regarding the settlement of the Papuan conflict.
Mahfud MD also said that the government also remains true to its commitment to developing Papua peacefully. Moreover, this has also been written in presidential instruction (Inpres) Number 9 of 2020.
The existence of KST in Papua with all its brutal actions so far has certainly created an endless sense of fear for the people of Papua. It is not wrong for Papuans to become inflamed and express their jealousy towards their compatriots and fellow countrymen in other areas who are allowed to enjoy the dynamics of normal life without fear of attacks and terror from KST.
The barbaric acts of KST, which are often disturbing, must be eradicated so that the people of Papua can live peacefully and peacefully. KST is not only want independence, but they also love to riot.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Gorontalo
