Asia-Pacific Report Press Office

The People’s Council of Papua (MRP) claims that a deputy of the Coordinating Ministry of Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) told them that the creation of new autonomous regions (DOBs) in Papua aims to reduce space for the national liberation of West Papua. Papua Movement without an army (TNPB-OPM) to move.

MRP Chairman Timotius Murib said Coordinating Minister of Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD also made the statement during a meeting between Kemenko Polhukam and MRP.

Murib said that during the meeting, the MPR received many contributions from Kemenko Polhukam.

“One of the deputies told MRP that MPR should know that DOB is a state activity to reduce space for TNPB-OPM or KKB [armed criminal groups] move,” Murib said during a virtual press conference on June 30.

Murib said the MP also said that the government will build a large number of regional police headquarters (Polda) and regional military commands (Kodam),

For this reason, the MRP believed that the creation of new autonomous regions in Papua was aimed at bringing more military into Papua and encircling the TPNPB.

According to Murib, the government was not prioritizing the interests of ordinary people but rather the desire to exploit natural resources in Papua.

“And they want to build [more] Polda, Kodam, in the near future,” Murib said.

Murib revealed that many people heard the MP’s statement.

The MRP believes that it is no longer a secret that the government pursues natural resources in Papua and ignores the interests of local people.

According to Murib, the government also wants to exploit natural resources undisturbed by other parties by bringing in large numbers of military.

“But brought so that when the natural resources [are managed] in Papua, no one disturbs this. Because the debt of the country is indeed very large at the moment, ”said the deputies.

Earlier on June 30, the House of Representatives (DPR) enacted three laws on the creation of new provinces in Papua – Central Papua, Papua Highlands and South Papua.

To note
The original text of the second paragraph in which Murib said that Minister Mahfud MD made the statement, rather than the anonymous MP, read: “Ketua Majelis Rakyat Papua (MRP), Timotius Murib mengatakan, bawahan Menko Polhukam, Mahfud MD menyampaikan pernyataan itu dalam salah satu pertemuan Kemenko Polhukam dengan MRP”.

Translated by James Balowski for IndoLeft News. The original title of the article was Majelis Rakyat Papua: Bawahan Mahfud Sebut DOB Papua Tuk Persempit OPM.