Mahfud MD Claims Conflicts in Papua Not Triggered by SARA

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD on Friday assured the public that the three conflicts that recently broke out in Papua were not motivated by religion, ethnicity, or race (SARA) issues. 

The three conflicts he referred to were the burning of the Double O night club and the shootout between Papuan liberation groups and military (TNI) personnel in Papua and the deadly conflict in Maluku, West Papua, which broke out due to a social conflict between residents of two neighboring villages.

“Alhamdulillah, we can conclude that none of the conflicts were motivated by SARA,” said Mahfud on January 28. “Please don’t develop these issues into what it is not.”

He elaborated that the arson of the nightclub was sparked by a physical altercation between the establishment’s customers.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Maluku happened because of a land acquisition conflict between two residents of opposing villages, which turned into a riot between the two village residents. 

“They could probably come from different ethnicities but the conflict is not SARA in the political sense of it. It was a pure conflict,” said Mahfud MD.

He believed that conflicts involving armed criminal groups (KKB) and the Indonesian military are based on a reactionary motive over the changes that are happening in Papua. Mahfud said the liberation groups may not be prepared for the government’s approach towards the region and highlighted that no civilians were targeted in the attack.

Read: Papua Police Commence Investigation Following Deadly Riot in Sorong

MIRZA BAGASKARA