Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – The chairperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, responded to what he believes is a baseless allegation made by the Indonesian State Intelligence (BIN) against separatist groups.
Indonesian intelligence recently announced that Benny will use the National Games (PON XX) in Papua to spark instability and attract the attention of the international community.
"We are not interested in the hoaxes and deceits spread by the Indonesian intelligence," Benny wrote to Tempo, which was forwarded by his secretary on May 27.
State Intelligence Deputy retired general Teddy Lhaksmana Widya Kusuma previously accused separatists of using the PON momentum to create instability. Kusuma specifically referred to two notable names, Veronica Koman and Benny Wenda.
Benny attacked back at Indonesian elites which he believes have introduced injustice in Papua and that there are 21,000 security forces mobilized to the region for the past three years in a string of military operations to protect businesses there.
He believes that the Indonesian military has conducted a plethora of businesses in Papua, palm companies destructing forests owned by local Papuans. Benny also accuses the Indonesian government and Freeport of stealing copper and gold from Papua.
"Where does the money to fund this come from? From West Papua," he said. "Indonesia is a state of mafia."
Benny Wenda insists that Indonesia has illegally occupied Papua since 1963 and turned the region into a treasure for the Indonesian security forces. He accuses the Indonesian government of being apathetic towards the human rights violations against Papuan indigenous and caring more about the natural resources in the region.