REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Lieutenant General (Ret) Soedibyo *)

Recently (April 2016) an exchange of fire between a small TNI  patrol unit and a number of armed people happened in Puncak Jaya,  Papua. We believe those armed people ambushing the TNI patrol unit were the remnants of the  Freedom Movement Organization of Papua. The armed threat of the Freedom Movement Organization of Papua is not significant however  the alertness against the possible security disturbance of those group is  difinitely important.

The political activity of the Freedom Movement Organization of Papua is relatively eminent. Strategically, the political activities in the framework are mainly done abroad, to days it is led by Beny Wenda as a speaker, one Papuan political activist organizing the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), living in London.

Its objective is to get the political international support to the struggle of Pappuan People to get their freedom, of among the countries of the World and especially the United Nations.

For this purpose likely various freedom political organization were established in West Papua led by political activists, among other were the National Parliamentarian Union of West Papua and the Federal Government of West Papua and other various local organization to support the ULMWP.  The group of the Federal Government of West Papua clarified that they have declared the freedom of West Papua in 2011 and supports the ULMWP.

ULMWP is planning to conduct the International Conference in May 2016 in their effort to consolidate its international movement to get support from the United Nations and to become the member of  MSG (Melanesian Solidarity Group) a forum of the Coordination of the Melanesian Countries in  the South of Pacific. Now ULMWP is treated as the Observer of MSG forum. ULMWP is wishing to open the Office of The Representative of ULMWP in Solomon and Vanuatu but those two countries have not  yet agreed to the request.

About  a few month ago an effort was made by a group of people in Jayapura  trying to install a name board  as if a Central Office of the ULMWP was opened in Wamena, but the name board was dismissed  by the Government security Guard. The activity of ULMWP is likely eminent abroad. Beny Wenda the most active figure to move the ULMWP is trying to consolidate the ULMWP through the so called International Conference conducted in London some time in May 2016.

Approaches Combination

So far, President Jokowi likely has decided to formulate his policy to solve the problem of Papua. Definitely, Papua should be defended hardly as a part of the Indonesian territory, however the combination of hard approach and soft approach will be applied to face the situation of Papua.

Internally, the government security forces will be definitely strengthened to maintain the stability, but soft approaches to embrace the Papuan people is also implemented. For the so called soft approach, it is likely the development of Papua will be conducted based on the Papuan people interest and necessity.

In the political field, internationally Indonesia will show the world that Indonesia is not colonial power who wants  to squeeze the Papuan people, but we are one big family who will support each other. Indonesia especially will show to the Melanesian countries in South Pacific that Indonesia is ready to establish the close cooperation with them and Indonesia will always open Papua for their visit to conclude  that  Indonesia is not colonial power  but the brother of the Pappuan people.

The countries of South Pacific will realize that Papua has been developed totally by the Government of Indonesia, so that Papua is no more backward countries but Papua also has been developed similar to other parts of the countries of Indonesia.

Indonesia will suggest the countries of the South Pacific to put aside the fanaticism on Melanesian brotherhood and to develop the cooperation with other races such Indonesia,  on various field, mainly in the economic cooperation and also the social  necessity such as sport and education.

Today Indonesia has sent one company of Army Engineer to Fiji to support the recovery of a certain destruction happened  in Fiji and supporting some money to support the needed budget for the respective  natural disaster.

Beside to increase the cooperation of  Indonesia and  the Melanesian countries in South Pacific, the effort to neutralize the impact of the activities of ULMWP is definitely important  so that it is important for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have the strong information desk to counter it.

Now, a good cooperation between Indonesia and  Fiji has been started, and likely  more wise attitude among the countries of the Melanesian in the South Pacific and Indonesia is expected to increase and the  Association on Friendly  Cooperation between those group countries and Indonesia is eminent to be established soon.

*) The writer is a Security Observer. Residing in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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