Strongly Rejecting July 1 OPM Anniversary, Community Wants to Maintain Unity of the Republic of Indonesia
By: Theresia Mote*
Every nation has important moments that become milestones in the history of struggle, but not all dates are worthy of being celebrated as a day of remembrance. The claim of July 1 as the Anniversary of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) not only does not reflect the spirit of progress and humanity, the determination of this date is actually a symbol of the glorification of violence that is contrary to the noble values of the Papuan people themselves. This is what was emphasized by a number of traditional figures and regional leaders in the Land of Papua that Papua chooses peace, not conflict, chooses unity within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), not division.
Yanto Eluay, a central Papuan traditional figure, loudly voiced his rejection of the commemoration of July 1 as the founding day of the OPM. For the Papuan indigenous people, the date has no cultural roots or moral legitimacy in the order of life that upholds peace, brotherhood, and prosperity. This rejection is not just rhetoric, but a call of conscience that grows from a deep desire to build the Land of Papua with dignity, far from weapons and conflicts that only leave social wounds between generations.
In Yanto Eluay’s view, Papuans have a clear purpose in life—they want to live peacefully, educate their children and grandchildren in peace, build the local economy, strengthen access to education and health services, and protect the local environment and culture. All of this cannot be achieved if violence continues to be the face shown to the world. In fact, armed separatism that has been carried by the OPM group has become the main obstacle to Papua’s progress. Therefore, according to him, rejecting the commemoration of July 1 is not only a political act, but also a form of moral responsibility towards the future of Papua.
In line with that, voices from West Papua also strengthened the peaceful narrative. Korneles Yenu, Chairman of the Irian Jaya Red and White Movement, called on the people of Manokwari not to be easily provoked by separatist issues that were deliberately played up ahead of July 1. He emphasized the importance of social calm and stability as a foundation for shared progress. In this context, maintaining security is not only the duty of the authorities, but also the moral obligation of all elements of society who love their homeland and do not want to drag the younger generation into endless conflict.
Manokwari traditional figure, Lewi Mandacan, even warned firmly that the Republic of Indonesia has given great space and attention to Papua through various development and empowerment programs. In his statement, he encouraged the community not to get caught up in the rhetoric of conflict that only damages the joints of togetherness. He invited the Papuan community to be part of the solution and participate in maintaining the integrity of this diverse nation.
From the government side, the Governor of Papua Pegunungan, John Tabo, reminded that peace is the main requirement for accelerating development, especially in the New Autonomous Region (DOB) such as Papua Pegunungan. He invited residents in the eight districts under his leadership to maintain social stability and not create chaos that could hinder economic development, education, or health services. In his capacity as a regional leader, he has the responsibility to protect and care for all people regardless of background, and called for all levels to unite to build a peaceful, just, and prosperous Papua.
The peaceful narrative built by traditional figures and regional leaders must be a serious concern for the entire Indonesian nation. Separatist efforts that want to divide Indonesia not only threaten territorial integrity, but also harm the hopes of Papuans who yearn for a better life. Glorifying violence and armed struggle is not a way out of the problem—it prolongs suffering and closes off spaces for dialogue and development.
Papua is not a land of conflict. Papua is a big house inhabited by indigenous people who uphold harmony and love for their homeland. Any form of commemoration that aims to divide the nation, such as July 1 which is claimed as the founding day of the OPM, is actually a threat to the noble ideals of the Papuan people themselves. In the midst of the increasingly rapid flow of information, the public is required to be wise in filtering information and not easily believe in provocations that are detrimental to the common interest.
The young generation of Papua needs to be directed to become agents of positive change, not victims of violent narratives. They must be given access to quality education, broad economic opportunities, and healthy political participation space in Indonesia’s democratic system. The central and regional governments must continue to strengthen an inclusive approach, embracing all parties to accelerate Papua’s development without discrimination.
Rejecting the commemoration of July 1 as the OPM anniversary is an important step in breaking the chain of glorification of violence. This is not just a rejection of a symbol, but a firm statement that the future of Papua lies in the spirit of togetherness in the Republic of Indonesia. The land of Papua has been, is, and will continue to be an integral part of Indonesia, with all its diversity and richness. Now is the time for all components of the nation to unite to maintain peace, for a peaceful, advanced, and prosperous Papua.
*The author is a journalist and literacy activist from Papua
