Government’s Policy Change from KKB to OPM: International Response Expected

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Gadjah Mada University (UGM) international relations expert Dafri Agussalim, reminded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expect an international response to the change in the term armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua to Organization Papua Merdeka (OPM) which is directed TNI.

With this change in terms, Dafri suspects that the government will take stronger measures to deal with the conflict in Papua. Therefore, he encouraged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to anticipate an international response by strengthening diplomacy, especially with countries that have the ability to support the OPM.

“The government must do more intensive and persistent diplomacy to ensure that our intention is not to exterminate certain tribes, but to maintain the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Dafri when contacted by Tempo on Monday, 15 April 2024.

Dafri said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needed to find out which countries had the opportunity to support OPM. He believes that several countries tend to side with the OPM, for example countries in the South Pacific or other small countries.

“In the South Pacific, Australia is the key. We have a good relationship with Australia, close. So we can stop the movement supporting separatists,” he said.

But, he said, the international response was largely dependent on the government’s efforts to deal with OPM. He warned that if there was physical contact such as mass murder, the international community would certainly respond. Therefore, he asked the government to be careful in handling the conflict in Papua.

According to him, in fact, from the point of view of international law, Indonesia is becoming stronger by calling the OPM a separatist group. “But politics is dynamic. Statements of support (by other countries) for such organizations may not be based on international law, but on their commitment,” said Dafri.

DPR RI Commission I member, TNI Major General (retired) TB Hasanuddin, warned that mentioning OPM could have negative consequences as it would be less profitable for Indonesia abroad. Therefore, he said, this case needs to be handled more seriously, especially by Indonesian diplomats.

Notice

In my opinion, the change in the term KKB to OPM has political implications. “For example, the term OPM abroad is not so profitable because it can create sympathy from several countries towards the minority struggle that these armed elements are doing,” said Hasanuddin to Tempo, Sunday, 14 April 2024.

Based on an order dated 5 April 2024, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto ordered Military Regional Order XVII / Cendrawasih and Military Regional Order XVIII / Kasuari and ranks to reuse the term OPM. Previously, the TNI used the label Separatist Terrorist Group (KST) to refer to this group.

“So they called themselves TNPPB (West Papua National Liberation Army) together with OPM,” said General Agus Subiyanto at Wisma A. Yani, Menteng, Jakarta, Wednesday, 10 April 2024.

YOHANES MAHARSO | EKA YUDHA

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