By: Devaryo Valarie )*
In the last few months, the Free Papua Organization (OPM) has often attacked TNI and Polri posts, such as in the Homeyo District, also targeting traditional markets, schools, places of worship, hospitals and community homes. The terror carried out by OPM clearly caused public unrest and fear. Therefore, OPM’s actions must be suppressed. The government and security forces, especially those in the Papua region, continue to be committed to protecting the community and handling and anticipating the presence of OPM so that they do not act more brutally.
The government pays special attention to Papua in various aspects of life. One of them, President Joko Widodo held a limited meeting (Ratas) to discuss special operations for Papua with a number of ministers from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. Ministers who attended included Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto, and Chief of General Staff (Kasum) TNI Lt. Gen. Bambang Ismawan. Apart from that, also present were the Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa, the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Budi Gunawan and the National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, stated that his party is currently drawing up a plan to accelerate Papua’s development. One of them is a welfare approach program. Apart from that, the joint meeting with the President also discussed security approaches that must be given special attention. The aim is to ensure peace in Papua.
Security forces through Operation Peace Cartenz 2024 were very successful in uncovering cases involving active OPM members. The authorities have made firm and measurable law enforcement efforts against OPM in nine regions, and of course this law enforcement is carried out firmly and measurably.
Firm action against OPM atrocities in Homeyo District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua was carried out by the Joint TNI-Polri Security Force. OPM has threatened security in the Intan Jaya area for three consecutive days. The atrocities began with an attack on the Homeyo Police Station on April 30 2024 which killed a teenage civilian named Alexsander Parapak, the burning of the Inpres Pogapa Elementary School building on May 1 2024, and an attempted attack on Koramil 1705-05/Homeyo on May 2 2024.
The OPM attack has created fear among the local community. In following up on the OPM disturbance, Brimob troops from the Blukar Task Force and Kopassus troops from the Nanggala Task Force were deployed on May 3 2024. Both are part of the Cartenz 2024 Peace Operation. Firm action against OPM perpetrators of criminal acts in the Homeyo District is a step to ensure security in the area so that local communities can carry out their activities safely.
The Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force succeeded in apprehending a person suspected of being the perpetrator of the murder of the late Danramil 1703-4/Aradide, First Lieutenant (Anm) Oktovianus Sogalrey who was caught taking the victim’s cell phone, on May 11 2024 at around 10.40 WIT.
The perpetrator is named Anan Nawipa, male, born in Widimeida, July 6 1991, address in Widimeida Village, Paniai Regency. Currently, further investigation is being carried out on the perpetrator at the Paniai Police Headquarters. A number of pieces of evidence that were secured included 1 cell phone with a SIM card number belonging to the late Danramil Aradide, First Lieutenant (Anm) Oktovianus Sogalrey; 1 machete; 1 set of L keys; 1 BRI account book and 1 blue-black side bag.
Assistant Operations (Asops) to the National Police Chief, Inspector General Pol Verdianto Iskandar Bitticaca, said that the 2024 Cartenz Peace Operation aims to protect the public from OPM harassment. His party supervised the Headquarters of Pioneer Battalion B in Timika in order to directly check the implementation of the 2024 Cartenz Peace Operation. The Cartenz Peace Operation is routinely carried out every year to protect the community from OPM disturbances. Synergy between task forces must be truly maintained and work honestly/sincerely so that they can bring peace to the Papuan people.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo expressed appreciation for the Cartenz Peace Operation Team for their achievements and gave appreciation to all Cartenz Peace Operation personnel who served at posts in nine regions. The National Police Chief also advised them to continue carrying out their duties with enthusiasm and remain alert, and the main thing is to maintain their own health.
Meanwhile, the TNI-Polri Task Force Team (Satgas) will use violence against members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) which has caused many victims in Papua.
Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen) Major General TNI Nugraha Gumilar said the TNI-Polri were intensively pursuing the OPM. His party continues to prioritize dialogue and communication methods with OPM. However, if they choose the path of violence, the TNI-Polri will not hesitate to face them with violence too.
The crimes committed by OPM do not support human rights, especially for civilians in Papua. OPM made a serious moral mistake by using violence. Cooperation between the government, security forces and all elements of society is certainly needed to take firm action against OPM in Papua.
)* The author is a student from Papua in Surabaya
