Moeldoko Claims Papua New Guinea Is Done because People Want Prosperity

The Chief of the Presidential Staff of the Republic of Indonesia, Moeldoko stated that the implementation of the New Autonomous Region or the New Autonomous Region of Papua is part of the government's efforts to improve the welfare of the Papuan people. According to him, those who oppose the Papua New Guinea by violent means are those who do not want this welfare acceleration program to succeed. "The general public and Nduga basically want a peaceful and prosperous life, they don't want to be involved in their armed crimes," said Moeldoko at The Westin Hotel, South Jakarta, Thursday, July 21, 2022.

Moeldoko claims the establishment of a New Autonomous Region (DOB) in Papua is what the community wants. According to Moeldoko, by dividing the territory of Papua into Central Papua, Mountains Papua, and South Papua, it will bring public services closer to the community. Not only through the DOB, he stated that the government of President Jokowi has issued many policies to improve the welfare of the Papuan people. One of them is the Presidential Instruction regarding the acceleration of welfare development in Papua and West Papua.

“The government continues to seriously pay attention to the welfare and progress of the people in the Papua region, what is the evidence? see Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2020 regarding the acceleration of welfare development in Papua and West Papua, and is commanded by the Vice President directly," said Moeldoko. The law, according to him, emphasizes that there will be an increase in special autonomy funds, improved governance, and increased participation of indigenous peoples and women.

Previously, the West Papua National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Organization (TPNPB OPM), Sebby Sambom, said that the Papuan people rejected the new autonomous region plan in Papua. He stated that the central government seemed to force the formation of the new autonomous regions. Furthermore, Sebby urged President Jokowi to the Indonesian House of Representatives to revoke the Papua New Guinea Law. He threatened OPM to kill any foreigners who entered Papuan territory.

"If you don't heed the TPNPB-OPM Komnas Headquarters Warning, then the TPNPB will move to kill any immigrants who enter the Land of Papua," wrote Sebby. The threat was proven on Saturday, July 16, 2022, when the OPM shot at people, causing 11 people to die. Moeldoko strongly condemned the OPM's actions. He said the OPM did so out of fear that the welfare programs designed by the current government were successful and that they would lose their influence.

He also expressed a strong protest over the incident and said the government would start taking firm action against the OPM. "This affirmation is important so that there is no wrong perception of the actions of the security forces that will be carried out," said Moeldoko. The government and the DPR previously passed the Papua New Guinea Law at the end of last June. The law ratifies the establishment of the Provinces of Central Papua, Papua Mountains, and South Papua.

SOURCE: https://time.online/2022/07/22/8915/