M

span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">May peace prevail: Papuans attend Mass in Jayapura, Papua, on Wednesday to pray for a peaceful anniversary of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) on Thursday. Antara/Anang BudionoThe Free Papua Movement (OPM) has played down rumors of unrest ahead of events scheduled for today, which many have dubbed as the 50th anniversary of the independence of West Papua, saying that violence and unrest would only occur as a result of manipulation by certain parties.

“The OPM and Papuans will celebrate the historic day in several locations. We will hold rallies and other peaceful activities, such as communal prayers,” OPM’s international spokesman, John Otto Ondawame, told The Jakarta Post via email on Wednesday.

“We would never celebrate the day violently. If violent incidents occur, they will be due to machinations by ‘the enemy’,” John said, without elaborating.

He also warned that “certain irresponsible groups” might use the celebration to “promote certain political agendas, such as discrediting the OPM”.

Over the past few days, residents in several cities in Papua have reported receiving fear-mongering text messages, warning of possible unrest or violence on Dec. 1.

Authorities have been beefing up security measures, deploying more than 2,000 police officers to numerous key places in the country’s two easternmost provinces.

Also on Wednesday, National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo assured the situation in Papua during the Dec. 1 celebration would be calm.

“People don’t need to worry,” he said. “Everything will be just like normal. There is no plan to raise the security status in Papua as the region has been secured,” Timur said, commenting on the plan to deploy additional police officers.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Agus Suhartono said some Papuan groups should be allowed to hold celebrations.

“But we urge people not to do anything that could harm the unity of Indonesia,” Agus said.

He added that the TNI would not deploy more troops to Papua. “But we are ready to face the worst-case scenario, which could happen.”

Cendrawasih Military Commander Maj. Gen. Erfi Triassunu said, however, that his force in Jayapura would stay alert throughout the day.

“We don’t want to take risks. If a house has been robbed once, the owner would take precautionary measures, such as securing the locks and fixing the fence.”

Many have been concerned that the consistent calls for independence in Papua have been exacerbated by rampant corrupt practices, which have deeply hampered development in the provinces.

Some Papuans say any policy by the Indonesian government will not improve the situation as they believe the root of the problems goes back to Papua’s integration into Indonesia.

Simson Fangka, a Wamena resident, cited special autonomy (Otsus) as an example of a Jakarta policy that had failed to deliver any improvements to Papua. “Otsus is only a way to transfer corruptors from Jakarta to Papua; it only benefits a small number of elites,” he told the Post on Wednesday. “Everything becomes very easy for you if you are a relative or friend of one of the local leaders in Papua. You have access to everything.”

Deputy of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), Hofni Simbiak, objected to the “accusation” of corrupt Papuan officials as the cause of sluggish improvement in the provinces.

“There are indeed corrupt officials in Papua and we demand they be punished. But accusing some Papuan regional officials of being corrupt and of being the cause of the hindered development in the province is only a way to distract the public from the real problem,” he said.

Papua Provincial Secretary Constant Karma said Jakarta should not only focus on Papua when it comes to corruption, as corrupt officials were also to be found in many other parts of Indonesia.

Usman Hamid, from the International Center for Transitional Justice, urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to firmly instruct security personnel not to use excessively repressive measures in addressing the Dec. 1 celebration.