Papua Governor Releases Statement on Terrorist Status for KKB, OPM

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Government through the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD on Thursday announced that armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua and organizations or people affiliated in it are deemed as terrorists. 

This means that the Free Papua Movement (OPM) will fall into the same category. 

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in a press statement wrote seven aspects in responding to the central government’s decision.

Firstly, the Papua governor stated that terrorism is an arguable concept in law and politics, saying that the naming of KKB as terrorist groups needs to be reviewed thoroughly to ensure the country’s objectivity in this decision.

The second aspect is that the Papua administration wholeheartedly agrees that the cruel acts done by a group of people claiming to be part of the armed criminal groups indeed are troubling, violate the law, and violate the basic principles of human rights. 

Lukas also asked the central government and house of representatives (DPR) to review its decision to acknowledge KKB as terrorists comprehensively while paying attention to the socio-economic effects and legal effects for the general population in Papua. "This is to prevent incidents where civilians are mistakenly identified a KKB."

Governor Lukas Enembe said labelling the armed local groups as terrorists will have a psychosocial effect on Papuans in general who are migrating and settling in other Indonesian regions. He fears that it will stigmatize them. 

He strongly suggested the central government to communicate and consult with the United Nations security council regarding its decision. 

Lastly, the governor maintained that Papuans will always remain loyal to the unitary state of the republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

HENDARTYO HANGGI