Beware of OPM Political Maneuver

On January 6, 2017 the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (Consulate) in Melbourne, Australia breached by the alleged activists or sympathizers of the Free Papua Movement. Perpetrators climbed over the fence Consulate General in Melbourne as high as 2.5 meters at 13.00 local time by using the momentum of the implementation of the Friday prayer worship. For a few seconds actors could breach the Morning Star flag which is a symbol of Papuan independence movement in the arena Consulate and documenting the action. This has provoked an outcry from the Indonesian government and denounced it as a criminal act that can not be tolerated.

Consulate burglary issue is not just a common criminal act, but it also means aggression against the sovereignty of Indonesia when the perpetrator flag symbolizing the separatist movement in Indonesia. These events should not be the case if both internal and external security is aware while carrying out their duties. As stipulated in the Vienna Convention to 1961 and 1963 on diplomatic and consular relations, the Australian government has the responsibility for the security of the diplomatic corps and consular facilities in the country.

This shows that idleness has implications for conditions that could threaten the national interests of Indonesia in carrying out his diplomatic mission. Therefore, it appears as reasonable suspicion that there is an intentional and the omission of the criminal actions of the Australia security forces which tend permissive against anti-Indonesia from Free Papua activist.

Not long ago, the outstanding appeal protests that spread through social media in Australia by a group calling itself as the Free West Papua Campaign. In a Facebook account, Free West Papua Campaign invites people to demonstrate on January 11, 2017 and January 31, 2017. This group misguided anti-Indonesia's government propaganda, the issue of genocide and occupation of Papua in the rallies on January 11, 2017. Strikes named Rally for West Papua, held in front of the Consulate General in Melbourne at Albert Park region and supported by the organization People Need Houses, which routinely campaigned homelessness and social housing in Australia.

In the action that followed by 10 people, Jacob Rumbiak, Papuan independence activists from the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) organization gave speeches supporting the action of breaking through the consulate in Melbourne with flag unfurled Papuan separatists. This incident also followed by doing graffiti on the wall and attempt to break the gates of the Consulate General by protesters while campaigning for "free west Papua".

Although the perpetrators of this vandalism was arrested by police in Victoria, unfortunately then released despite laws in Australia there are fines and criminal sanctions against anyone who enters the territory of others without their permission. Recognized or not by Australia, Victoria's Police actions show their "implicit support" them against ULMWP.

Political Maneuver

The issue of international propaganda carried out by activists of the Free Papua is not only happening in Australia. ULMWP group also intense garner support from Pacific island countries who are members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a regional bloc that includes Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
 The purpose of the ULMWP itself seems not just solidarity among allied nations, but it has a political agenda to rally support for separatist from the Homeland. However, these efforts have failed because of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in a meeting on 14-16 July 2016 in Honiara, Solomon Islands has been declared un-ble to accept the membership of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). It confirms once again the international recognition of the legitimate sovereignty of Papua as part of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, group called the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) also actively gather political support within the country and or ganizing actions demonstrations, rallies and propaganda through various networking organizations and forums in the country to support the demands of Papuan independence, KNPB group also intensely perform a variety of approaches and infiltration to the students who are studying in Papua outside Papua region to take action to voice Papuan independence. In addition, KNPB also actively gather political support for the group International Parliamentarians for West Papua or the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) established by activists of the Free Papua, Benny Wenda, who fled from Indonesia and settled in the UK since 2002.

If we look at the various stunts performed by a group of Papuan independence, it appears that they combine the political movements in Indonesia and the international campaign. Papuan independence activists incessant maneuvering provocative propaganda actions as human rights violations, occupation, and genocide by the Indonesian government and military.

The provocative act was done to provoke repressive actions of the Indonesian authorities so that they have the ammunition to be exploited as a justification for their claims of human rights violations. Law enforcement action undertaken by the government are then manipulated in such a way as represiatas political freedom that leads to human rights violations.

The target of this action is to discredit the government of Indonesia in the eyes of international and garner sympathy from groups in the country which makes the issues of democracy and human rights as a political commodity.

While the international campaign conducted by the political wing of the Free Papua Movement through its activists who fled the country and formed the organization in a number of countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

The activists of Papuan independence is to exploit the situation by manipulating and exploiting the issues of Papua as a way to survive and gain better bargaining position with interest groups who do not feel comfortable with the policy of the Indonesian government which expressly states that Papua is part of sovereignty legitimate NKRI, either historical, political and juridical. Various forums they follow to build a negative opinion on the Indonesian government and show their existence as a group claiming to represent all the people of Papua.

Comprehensive Approach

Papua issue should be addressed by a comprehensive approach, both on the local context of Papua and effective international diplomacy. In the local context of Papua, the issue of accelerating the development of better infrastructure, health, human resources, environment and so that public participation should be a priority.

This is combined with the creation of a guarantee equitable development, security and effective law enforcement. Prosperity approach (welfare approach) and law enforcement should be a synergistic and effective measures implemented in the field. The government should not lose credibility and authority in gaining support of all the people of Papua and looks weak face-wing political maneuvering and the OPM separatist actions of his supporters.

The government's move to arrest and bring to justice for treason against a number of Papuan independence activists were appropriate and be shock therapy for those who want to fish in troubled waters in Papua issue is an internal affair of Indonesia.

While international diplomacy issues cannot be separated from foreign policy framework in Indonesia, supported by Indonesian diplomats' sensitivity in responding to international developments relating to issues of Papua and expertise in diplomacy assert and protect the national interests of Indonesia. Indonesian foreign policy issues related to Papua should depart from the perspective of extending the national interest and has a strategic blueprint as a guide in establishing cooperation and foreign relations with other countries and various interest groups in the international community.

Although to date no country has explicitly give recognition to political maneuvers OPM abroad, but need to remain aware of the hidden potential to be a stumbling block for Indonesia's national interests.

*) The author is a FISIP alumnus of the State University of Jember (Unej) and post-graduate alumnus of the University of Indonesia (UI). One of the founders CERSIA, Jakarta.