T

his is comment on a news report titled '€œOfficer, civilian killed in Puncak Jaya ambush, The Jakarta Post, p5, June 27.

Indeed, '€œviolence'€ is the middle name of the Free Papua Organization'€™s (OPM) Papua Liberation Army (TPN).

The possession of fire arms has been part of the organization since the beginning of the struggle, despite strict regulations on the possession of arms. Weapons can still be found throughout the archipelago believed to have been smuggled in by non-government actors with an interest in the region, for the purpose of '€œmanaging the conflict'€ to ensure its own interest economically and politically.

In Papua'€™s case, it could be any foreign company. They '€œfeed'€ the organization and preserve them in order to manage '€œthe political balance'€ so they can gain a dominant bargaining position with the government. Otherwise, how could the organization and its military groups still exist? Where have they found the money to buy weapons when their own countrymen do not support them?

Who funded them? Fed them? Why would they still exist while there'€™s nothing to fight for? Not even freedom, since the Papuan people has its own '€œterm'€ of freedom?

On the other hand, while the authorities seem tied up on the issue of human rights and tend to avoid any assertive actions on them, the supporters of OPM, like the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) continue their political maneuvers, locally and internationally '€” issues like human rights and abuse of power '€” which I believe are used for international attention.

However, unfortunately they are blind to reality; murders of not only soldiers and police but also civilians.

So, the question is: what is the purpose? Who are they fighting for '€” the Papuan people or '€œthe hand that feeds them'€?

Rafli Hasan
Medan