The Free Papua Organization (OPM) continues to carry out various kinds of acts of violence, which then results in many casualties from various groups, starting from indigenous Papuan civil society (OAP) to security forces. Therefore, there is absolutely no tolerance for their existence and all their actions.
Because there have been too many fatalities resulting from attacks and various kinds of OPM violence, it is appropriate that strict legal action be taken against them.
Don’t tolerate anyone who continues to undermine the nation’s security and peace, including in Papua, because the Earth of Cenderawasih is truly a place full of peace. However, all this time the existence of OPM has continued to damage it.
For information, OPM or the abbreviation for Free Papua Organization is a separatist movement that exists throughout the easternmost province of the country. The movement consists of several elements, including groups of different armed units.
Each group of armed units has limited territorial control without a single commander. Several more groups are in the area holding demonstrations and protests as well.
In addition, there is another small group of leaders based abroad, who continue to raise awareness of various issues in the Papua region while trying to gain international support for their independence. All the issues and propaganda they convey clearly seriously undermine the unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
Not only do they continue to try to undermine the unity and integrity of the nation, but it turns out that from day to day, the acts of violence they commit in the Land of Papua are increasing. In fact, the number of victims who died as a result of OPM’s barbarity continues to increase compared to previous years.
Head of the Damai Cartenz Operations Task Force (Kasatgas Ops), Police Commissioner (Kombes Pol) Faizal Ramadhani said that data shows that in 2023, separatist gangs committed 209 atrocities. Then all their sadistic actions resulted in 79 people dying horribly.
Of the total number of victims killed, 37 of them were civilians, a further 20 people were security officers from the Indonesian National Army (TNI) and 3 other people were members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
The number of deaths due to the OPM armed conflict continues to increase from the previous year, namely in 2022 there were 53 fatalities. This data clearly shows an increase in the intensity of violence.
Very intense cases of violence by the Free Papua Organization occurred in August 2023, namely there were up to 38 cases throughout that month. The area with the most cases during that year was Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), Bambang Soesatyo, fully supports the steps taken by the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, in naming the armed group demanding Papua’s independence as OPM.
They are no longer an Armed Criminal Group (KKB) or a Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST). So the TNI Commander’s decision to re-state that the armed group in Papua is OPM is the right decision.
The reason is, OPM itself is a term for the Papuan pro-independence movement since 1963, which is in accordance with how so far the armed group in Bumi Cenderawasih has continued to carry out various kinds of separatist acts, terror and even murder.
Upholding the safety of the nation above all else is the responsibility of all parties, so for example there are still parties who question Human Rights (HAM) regarding the obligations of security forces in carrying out law enforcement and carrying out constitutional orders, namely protecting the entire nation and all areas where it lives. Indonesia, clearly cannot be tolerated any longer.
There can no longer be any tolerance, no matter how small, towards separatist groups, terrorists or the OPM because so far they have continued to promote terror and carry out various crimes that have resulted in many fatalities.
For this reason, all separatist and terrorist movements in Indonesia must be crushed thoroughly. Don’t give any opportunity for separatist and terrorist movements in Indonesia to continue to thrive in Indonesia.
Apart from taking firm and measurable action, the government also needs to continue to build dialogue with the local regional government (Pemda) along with traditional, tribal, religious, youth and various other Papuan community leaders.
So it is fitting that there is no longer any tolerance for various kinds of OPM acts of violence which have so far caused many casualties, not only from civil society, but also from security forces.
