Suara Papua in Jayapura

“Since its establishment on November 19, 2008, the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has always faced many challenges, including attempts to criminalize and state dissolution through the TNI institutions. [Indonesian military] and Polri [Indonesian police]. “

The above was written by the national spokesperson of the KNPB of the West Papua National Committee, Ones Suhuniap, in his notes on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the KNPB on Friday.

“Attempts at criminalization from 2009 until now in 2021 continue through TNI and Polri,” Suhuniap wrote.

The first challenge, he said, was the first coordination post at the grave of assassinated independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay in Sentani, Jayapura regency, which was forcibly dismantled by Indonesian security forces on the orders from the regent of Jayapura at the time.

“Because the first coordination post was dismantled on December 30, 2008, the KNPB finally established the Papua Task Force headquarters near Bapak. [Mr] Theys the tomb of Eluay, ”he said.

As a result, in 2009 the KNPB was listed by the government as a “terrorist” and “criminal” organization.

Australian academic Dr Jason MacLeod clarified that the KNPB was a civil movement organization leading a peaceful urban struggle. Ultimately, the status of the KNPB as a terrorist and criminal organization was withdrawn, ”Suhuniap said.

Activists on the “wanted” list
When it was declared a terrorist and criminal organization, all KNPB activists were placed on the Police Wanted List (DPO). As a result, they all sought refuge in the forests, on Abe mountain, some even hid in Sabron, Jayapura.

“In the forests of Abe mountain, the KNPB organized its first mass consultation (Mubes) in the jungle,” he said.

A year later, in 2019, Suhuniap said that the KNPB had started promoting its first congress which was ultimately held in Sentani.

“The congress gave birth to three resolutions, including diplomatic unity, Papuan military unity and civil unity through representative institutions,” he said.

Attempts at criminalization have not ended, however. In 2021, the KNPB was again accused of being an anarchist and criminal organization.

“Several criminal actions forming part of a plot were concocted, then the president of the KNPB, Mako M Tabuni, was shot dead by members of the special forces (Kopassus) and the Indonesian police at the complex of the State Housing Company (Perumnas ) 3 in Waena. Then Hubertus Mabel was killed by the Indonesian army in Wamena.

Suhuniap revealed: “The state through the security forces has passed a proposal and proposed to the DPRP [Papua Regional House of Representatives], the RMR [House of Representatives] and the Mendagri [Ministry of Home Affairs] that they hold a plenary session to dissolve the KNPB after the assassination of its president and vice-president.

Extraordinary Congress
The same year, despite pressure from the military, the KNPB held an extraordinary congress (KLB) in Timika.

“In 2016, the Papua Regional Police issued a proclamation banning the KNPB from holding protests and proposed to the central government that the KNPB be immediately dissolved,” Suhuniap said.

None of these state efforts made the KNPB back down a single step.

Quite the contrary, Suhuniap said, the KNPB defied the proclamation of the regional police by occupying the headquarters of the Papua Mobile Brigade (Brimob) command in Kotaraja on May 1, 2016.

Despite the continued mental terror and repression by the security forces and their accomplices, in 2018 the KNPB aggressively built a consolidation until it succeeded in hosting the 2nd Congress in Vietnam Village in the State Housing Company complex. 3.

“The Second Congress gave birth to a political resolution, namely a National Civilian Strike (MSN),” Suhuniap said.

In 2021, the KNPB was criminalized by blaming them for attacks by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and relentless buzzer propaganda accusing the KNPB of wanting to thwart the 20th National Games in Papua.

“Simply absurd” accusations
“These accusations were just absurd because they were indeed not proven,” he said.

Finally, he said, last week plainclothes police arrived at the home of a resident of the Expo Waena area after hearing that KNPB activists were having a meal together.

In the first incident, on November 9, police arrived at the home of KNPB General Chairman Agus Kossay, who was having a meal. In the second, on November 13, police returned to the same location and, according to Suhuniap, searched the homes of local residents.

“The criminalization efforts, propaganda and plots that continue to be played by colonialists against the KNPB have made us stronger, more confident and even more mature to face the challenges of the struggle for West Papua,” he said. said Suhuniap.

“None of these efforts made the KNPB back down from the struggle, what Indonesia did against the KNPB provided the strength to keep the struggle for the national liberation of West Papua going.”

KNPB Chairman Warpo Sampari Wetipo said the KNPB, as the media of the ordinary people of West Papua, continues to be consistent in its mission of urban civil struggle.

Right to self-determination
“Regardless of the attempts and actions of the Indonesian security forces against the KNPB, this has never broken our fighting spirit. The KNPB believes in the right to self-determination agenda that has been defended so far, ”he said.

Wetipo said: “Until the Papuan people have a democratic space to determine their own future (self-determination), the KNPB will continue to exist throughout the territory of Papua.

“The KNPB has expanded its roots in Papua, from Sorong to Merauke. with the oppressed people struggling to regain independence for West Papua.

Translated by James Balowski for Indoleft News. The original title of the article was “Jelang HUT ke-13, KNPB Konsisten Berjuang”.