Restore Peace to Intan Jaya

HUMAS POLDA PAPUA

Ramli, a shooting victim by an armed criminal group was evacuated from Bilorai Airport, Intan Jaya Regency to Mimika Regency, Ppaua, on Tuesday (9/2/2021).

Three years ago, the condition of Intan Jaya regency, which is located in the central mountains of Papua, was peaceful. However, now, the situation has turned 180 degrees.

The security situation in Intan Jaya, Papua, as of Sunday (14/2/2021) was on alert status. This situation has not yet recovered after a series of incidents, including vandalism, intimidation and shootings by an armed criminal group (KKB).

According to Kompas, in early January 2021, KKB members burned a PK-MAX pioneering aircraft at an airfield in Kampung Pagamba, Mbiandoga district. On Jan. 10, 2021, Second Private Agus Kurniawan was shot dead in Titigi, Sugapa district. Then, on Jan. 22, 2021, Private Roy Vebrianto and Fist Private Dedi Hamdani were shot in the Titigi and Hitadipa areas. Finally, on Feb. 12, 2021, Chief Private Hendra Sipayung was attacked in Mamba village, Sugapa district. Throughout 2020, shootings of officials or civilians, even religious leaders, occurred.

The most affected by this situation are, of course, the 50,000 residents there. Since last year, local government services and education have been disrupted. To ensure their safety, hundreds of residents have even been evacuated to a number of churches. The House of Representatives leadership asked the central government, the chief of the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander and the regional government to quickly resolve the situation so that residents would not be in fear.

The demands are to end Special Autonomy Volume II and the plan to mine the Wabu Block, which is predicted to have gold resources of up to 8.1 billion tons.

The Intan Jaya district police, assisted by 100 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel from the Riau Police, conduct regular patrols to ensure security. In 2020, the central government also formed a joint fact-finding team to investigate the shooting of religious figures in Intan Jaya. The question is: Is this enough? In reality, the KKB is still hanging around and continuing to act. Meanwhile, an organization calling itself the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on international media websites has claimed responsibility for a series of violent acts that have occurred. The demands are to end Special Autonomy Volume II and the plan to mine the Wabu Block, which is predicted to have gold resources of up to 8.1 billion tons.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw shows the investigation data of a shooting case by an armed criminal group in Intan Jaya Regency.

Because of its abundant natural wealth, the violence that has disturbed Intan Jaya is certainly not an ordinary security disturbance. In the mind of residents there appears a question as well: Why can the KKB, with less than 100 members, not be immediately controlled, even paralyzed? If this doubt is not addressed, it could erode trust in the government. The residents of Intan Jaya are increasingly forced to flee.

Many interests compete for it and do not hesitate to use armed militias.

World history has proven that in areas of abundant natural wealth, blessings in the form of gold, diamonds and oil have turned into a curse. Many interests compete for it and do not hesitate to use armed militias. The intelligence agency needs to optimize intelligence information to support proper law enforcement and security so that the state can ensure that the people of Intan Jaya get peace again, as well as prosperity, instead of being expelled and living in fear.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)