By: Erlangga Pratama, Observer of Papuan Issues and Doctor Candidate     

Barisan Merah Putih (BMP) group in Jayawijaya Regency Papua firmly refused the existence of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and United Liberation of Movement West Papua (ULMWP). Both organizations are considered to have created disruption in the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The Chair of BMP chapter Pegunungan Tengah Papua, Salmon Walilo has demanded the police to execute the two groups that he believed to adhere to the opposite values of Indonesian ideology. “They clearly have different ideology and want to separate from NKRI. They also has troubled the society. Thus, we demand the police to firmly execute these groups,” said Salmon Walilo at BMP secretariat on Trans Kabupaten Street, District Libarek, Jayawijaya, Thursday (12/5/2016). He further asserted that KNPB always creates problems in Papua. On the other hand, the people of Papua are no longer willing to get involved in their lies as well as being trapped in their terrors that only hinder the progress of Papua development.

“The society also rejected the existence of such wild groups like KNPB that keeps troubling the people. All we want are peace and serenity as well as equitable growth that reach all areas including the villages,” he continued.

Walilo also persuaded the Papuan to not easily get provoked by the issues of Papuan independence spread by irresponsible groups. Up to now, Papua is still a part of NKRI.

“The people must resist the provocation and BMP is ready to guard the Papuan people in the frame of NKRI,” Walilo said. Beside rejecting the existence of KNPB and ULMWP, they also burned the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag and KNPB’s flag. (http://news.okezone.com/read/2016/05/12/340/1386920/setia-kepada-nkri-bmp-tolak-keberadaan-knpb-di-papua)

Previously, hundreds of Sentani people also burned the Morning Star flag in front of Jayapura Regency Office. The action was held before the Jayapura Regent Mathius Awaitouw, as a form of rejection towards separatist groups. The demonstration coordinator, Sarlen LS Dobondoy, persuaded the people to not getting involved in any wild organizations that only impede the development in Jayapura. “We, the indigenous people of Sentani, will never get involved in any wild groups like KNPB that only creates disruption in society,” he said on Monday (1/5/2016).

An orator, Ayatanoi Eluay, in his oration said that the indigenous people of Sentani must respect the cultural tradition and values in the land of Papua because that is the foundation of mutual respect amongst the society. “There are some groups that keeps creating trouble on our land. One of them is KNPB. Do not let ourselves getting trapped by the group and its conspiracy. Regarding the ULMWP, I have met with Beny Wenda and he cried due to the failure of the movement. In fact the group has only lied to the people of Papua,” he said.

Eluay believes that the people of Sentani only want a prosperous life. “ We will never join KNPB because we hold the cultural values and tradition as well as the spirit of NKRI,” he conveyed.

Another protester, Harlem Saroy, delivered the statement suggesting that none of the indigenous people of Sentani join KNPB. Second, the people of Sentani reject the existence of KNPB in Sentani because they only create disruption in the society.

“ We also reject the membership of ULMWP in MSG because all this time, the group has lied to the people of Papua. The fourth, we demand the government and security officers to take a firm measures to those committing crime and they should be returned to their origins,” he continued. Moreover, Sentani society wish for security and order in Jayapura Regency so that the development can progress well.

Furthermore, both district government and provincial government are expected to pass development projects in Jayapura to the indigenous people of Sentani and to settle all social disputes such as the payment of airport land compensation.

Serenity and Peace, and Development

            It is clear that the existence of KNPB and ULMWP as provocative organizations is not welcomed by Papuan people because they now realize that all this time they have been tricked, lied, and betrayed by the two organizations.  

            The demand of Jayapura and Sentani people for serenity and peace as well as equitable development throughout all areas in Papua is a natural demand. In fact, the increase of the welfare of the Papuan will eventually limit the movement of KNPB, ULMWP, and Free Papua Organization (OPM) as well as many NGOs in Jakarta that often exploit Papua issues in International forum.

            Clear and firm action of Papuan society must become an early warning for KNPB and ULMWP. We hope that they will voluntarily dissolve themselves, before they become a "common enemy" of Papuan society. Should they ignore the demand of the people of Papua, they can be repelled from the land of Papua.

            Actually, those who join KNPB and ULMWP are the Papuan youth who are militant, smart, and love their motherland, yet they have taken wrong measures in order to voice their thought by going against the constitution on behalf of democracy. They were exploited by some groups of people who, in fact, have totally different mission in Papua. KNPB and ULMWP might have been used by the political fugitive Benny Wenda to be able to reside in London, UK. These two groups might also have been used as the “speaker” of OPM because OPM do not know the political dynamics in Papua. It is also possible that they collaborated with those Special Autonomy (Otsus) fund corruptors.

            If KNPB and ULMWP’s activists do not play bad guy and think of getting separated from NKRI, yet love this country as the way it is, they are indeed an important assets of Papua who are hoped to be the future leaders. Finally, we do all hope that KNPB and ULMWP will find their way back home, to the embrace of the motherland. Hopefully.