Free Papua Movement Warns Govt against Expansion Plan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), which is the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), in a voice recording Tempo received on Monday, June 27, warned the Indonesian government to halt the Papua provincial expansion plan. 

Sambon urged, “We strongly ask Jakarta, the House of Representatives (DPR), and President along with Cabinet members to revoke the Draft Law for the expansion of the provinces.”

OPM argued that the government is overly controlling customary lands owned by indigenous Papuans. He added that the planned provincial expansion would continue to threaten the security of the region, which they claimed was under martial law. He said the expansion plan did not come from Papuans. 

“Martial law means that Jakarta is forcefully taking over our customary lands owned by Papuans,” said Sambon. “God did not create the Papuan lands for Indonesians, not for Jakartans, but for Papuan indigenous people.”

The Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have synchronized three legal aspects in the form of South Papua Province, Central Papua, and Papua Highlands Draft Laws. The idea of expanding Papua Provinces was initially expressed in July last year. 

M FAIZ ZAKI 

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