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Winning the hearts and minds of Papuans
We should make it clear that we have zero tolerance for any form of violence against Papuan civilians.
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Residents of Tembagapura district in Mimika regency, Papua wait to be evacuated by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police personnel on March 8, 2020. Thousands of residents in the area have been displaced from their homes due to armed conflict between security forces and armed criminal groups. (Antara/Sevianto Pakiding)
T
hroughout this year violence has escalated in Papua, with one incident claiming the life of Papua Intelligence Agency head Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha following an ambush in Beoga district, Puncak regency in April.
After the shooting, the government declared the Criminal Armed Group (KKB), held responsible for the fatal attack, terrorists. Nevertheless, labeling the KKB as a terrorist group did not necessarily reduce violence in the resource-rich province. In September an armed group attacked a military post in Ramil Kisor village in Maybrat regency in West Papua, killing four Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers.
The two incidents suggest the armed groups tend to perpetrate violence in mountainous and remote areas, which are their strongholds. The groups, too, eye civilian targets through arson and shooting attacks, as happened in Yahukimo regency on Aug. 17, when the KKB burned down a number of houses, forcing local people to flee their village for safety.
At least four attacks were carried out by the KKB within the last six months. In some cases, the armed clashes between the groups and security forces displaced many people.
Learning from the series of violence, we certainly need to create a better environment where people can live without fear. In this regard, the TNI can contribute by protecting people from all forms of security threat.
Let’s be clear, however, that Indonesia’s territorial integrity is final. There should be no room for demand for Papuan independence. Any dialog to promote social welfare and justice in Papua should be conducted within the frame of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Similarly, we should make it clear that we have zero tolerance for any form of violence against Papuan civilians.
My main concern is how the TNI can protect Papuan people who live in remote areas, if not isolation. This is worth discussing because it correlates with the troop deployment strategy in the strife-torn province and the implementation of the TNI’s territorial role.
