Jayapura – The Regional Military Commander of 172/PWY of Papua, Colonel Kav Burhanudin Siagian stated that the main enemies of the state are those who have enjoyed the nation's facilities, but who still do actions against the stability of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Traitors like them are the ones that must be destroyed.
"If I meet any one who has enjoyed the facilities that belong to the state but who still betray the nation, I honestly will destroy him" he said.
According to the Regional Military Commander, he had to make that statement because recently there had been individual students or youths who said that they represented certain organizations and who were under the influence of influential leaders in Papua, who had tried to raise the issue of the Act of Free Choice. They had wanted to claim that the 1969 Act of Free Choice was illegal and therefore there needs to be a new Act of Free Choice. However, the commander said that based on the historical facts, Papua has already become part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
"We should not try to reveal what has happened in the past because this is the time we should think of development in Papua" he stated.
The commander himself gave example of East Timor where when they were still under the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, there was some development. However, after they separated from Indonesia now we could see that there isn't any development. What we see now is that the nation [East Timor] is in turmoil. They even become enemies of themselves and create unstable security in the nation. So the Regional Military Commander hopes that the people of Papua especially those who have different perceptions, will NOT think about separation from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia but to think of developing Papua.
"Now there is a Special Autonomy, it is better for the Papuans to use this opportunity to build Papua to become more prosperous and do not think to follow the influences from abroad that have intentions to destroy the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia."
When the Commander was questioned about the existence of Mathias Wenda and Goliath Tabuni as the leaders of OPM and the ones who always create troubles and conflicts in Papua, the Commander said that they are not enemies but they are our brothers who still have different perceptions. They are the ones that need to be advised and educated about the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia so later they could change their minds and become citizens of the Republic of Indonesia.
"I urge my brothers who are still in the jungles to come out and join with us to build Papua towards a better future. This is not the time to fight as enemies" he stated.
Commander Siagian used this opportunity to urge the students and the intellectuals who are still pursuing their study not to try to reveal and dig the past history but to study very well so they could succeed one day and build Papua.
"Do not do demonstrations or any activities which are not useful. Use your time to study so you would become a successful person" he added.
[Translated from Malay]