Strictness and Wisdom

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

A resident received the Covid-19 vaccine in Jayapura City on Tuesday (21/9/2021). Jayapura City is one of the four clusters of the XX National Sports Week in Papua. The PON are being overshadowed by an increase in violent acts in Papua, which are suspected to have been carried out by armed criminal groups

The series of violent actions that have occurred in Papua throughout the year is worrying. On 2 to 15 Oct., the National Games (PON) will be held there and Papua will get attention.

The PON are being overshadowed by an increase in violent acts in Papua, which are suspected to have been carried out by armed criminal groups (KKBs). On Monday (13/9/2021), KKBs burned down the community health center (Puskesmas), market, school and Bank Papua office in Kiwirok district, Pegunungan Bintang regency. A health worker, Gabriella Meilani, died, and four others were injured.

In the previous week, four Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel were killed when the KKB attacked the Kisor military post in South Aifat district, Maybrat regency, West Papua. In early April, the KKB shot two teachers dead and burned down a school in Puncak regency, Papua. The head of the Papua Office of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Brig. Gen. I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha, was also shot dead by KKB members.

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The situation is very alarming. In any situation, including war or armed conflict, medical personnel should be protected.

The killing of the medical personnel sparked a strong reaction. People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Bambang Soesatyo said it was time for the state to take firm action. The KKB had not only disturbed the residents but also claimed many lives. "Get it done. Don\'t hesitate to act, give priority to people\'s safety. There should be no more innocent victims. The state must be present with full force,” said the former speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).

National Human Rights Commission external deputy chairman Amiruddin Al Rahab said the series of events that had occurred in Papua and West Papua were not ordinary security disturbances. "This condition is a state crisis," he said.

POLRES PEGUNUNGAN BINTANG

Hundreds of health workers walk around Oksibil, the capital of the Pegunungan Bintang Regency, Papua, Thursday (16/9/2021). This action is an expression of condolences and respect for Gabriella Meilani, a health worker who became a victim in an attack by an armed criminal group in Kiwirok District.

Strict but measurable steps need to be taken. The state must guarantee the safety of citizens. However, wisdom and peace of mind need to be used as a reference. Why does this vicious cycle of violence continue to happen? Will it be influenced by various distortions of information on social media? In fact, a number of "specific" regulations and budgets have been enacted in Papua.

A study is needed. The views of Neles Tebay, a lecturer at the Fajar Timur Abepura School of Philosophy and Theology, need to be examined attentively.

"Without recognizing their hopes, the government\'s efforts to organize Papua with heart, even though it may be carried out through large programs, will not necessarily answer the needs of local residents," Neles said.

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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has strong social capital to create peace in Papua. In the 2019 elections, he won the trust of the Papuan people. Of the 3,333,065 valid votes in Papua, the Jokowi-Ma\'ruf Amin pair won 3,021,713, more than 90 percent.

President Jokowi can lead a dialogue because Papuans trust him. According to his understanding, democracy is about listening to the voice of the people and implementing it. In addition to the strict steps needed to protect citizens and ensure the PON succeed, a cultural approach needs to be taken to win the hearts of Papuans as part of the republic.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo