Terror by Papua Secessionists Strengthens Indonesia’s Unity

Terror by Papua Secessionists

Villagers, religious leaders, tribe leaders, local government officials, police, and military in Papua are united against Free West Papua terrorist group after a repeated killing, burning, raping and torturing by Free West Papua armed group in Beoga, Puncak district, Papua province.

People are so frightened and they condemn the brutal terror by Free West Papua armed group. As expressed by a father of one of the victims, Mr. Elminus Mom, he said:

“I will go to Timika (in Mimika District) to voice a demand for justice to the international communities. The armed criminals were human rights violators and can be called terrorists owing to their inhuman actions against innocent civilians in Papua.”

He also questioned:

“For what and whom they struggle? Is it for freedom or for making innocent civilians fall victim?”

Free West Papua movement couldn’t disguise their group as freedom fighter, because the fact has shown that they are just a bunch of terrorist politically controlled by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and militarily under the command of Free Papua Army or Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPNPB). Papua Province has borne witness to a string of violent attacks by armed groups that have targeted civilians and security personnel in the past two years.

Violent killing by Free West Papua armed group resulting in deaths and injuries to civilians and security personnel, can be expected to continue due to the terror strategy by Free West Papua. In the absence of direct communication to make aware of the Free West Papua side’s mistakes, the Papuan government supported by Police force should prioritize the safety of Papuan people. Free West Papua has never talk about peace or peaceful means to discuss the differences. Free West Papua’s ambition to control the region has blinded their heart and eyes, that is why they pursue brutal violent terror to frightened the people. Each terror attack will increase tensions and polarizes the situation even worse, making peace and reconciliation that much more difficult.

With this short article of Terror by Papua Secessionists, I would like to request all members of Free West Papua, either political wing or armed wing to stop their brutal terror and start to think about Papua and West Papua future, more importantly to find a way for peace and support the development of Papua and West Papua province.