The Impact of the Regional Election of the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua to the development of those two Provinces

General Situation of Papua in the early of March 2017

The Simultaneous Regional Election of the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua had been implemented smoothly in line to the plan on February 15, 2017. Though a spectacular incidents has happened a few days after the ballot in the district of Intan  Jaya but in general the security situation, peace and order in Papua were totally controlled.
 
The stagnant political conflict have not happened and so far there is not any crucial complaint to the result of the ballot though  some ballots have to be repeated because of technical errors such as  in the district of Jayapura.

The security, peace and order in the period of the implementation of the Regional Election have been successfully maintained peacefully and politically stable. Luckily there was not any armed criminal activity done by the remnants of OPM in all over Papua and West Papua describing likely there was special attitude of the remnants of OPM against the State Agenda of Simultaneous Regional Election.

The alertness of the people and the security apparatus during the period of the ballot day comprised of the Police and TNI units have been definitely deterring the possible threat of the armed criminal groups existing in both the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua. However unexpected incidence happened lately a member of the Military Area Command of the district Jaya Wijaya was shot by the Armed criminal group on Friday March 3, 2017 more than two weeks after the ballot of February 15, 2017.  

Also unluckily a mass conflict had happened with significant victims in the district of Intan Jaya. This big physical conflict affected three people died and ninety people wounded That mass fighting was caused by the rivalry between two Chief of Districts candidates of the District of Intan Jaya using the traditional weapon such as arrows and swords. The district of Intan Jaya is  isolate no land transportation is available but air transportation using small aviation.
 
Politically the ballot had been done completely and safely though the Local Election Commission occasionally looked less professional in the implementation of their jobs. In su the implementation of the ballot could be finished on February 15, 2017.  

Accordingly  It is likely worth to note the expression of The  Indonesian Youth National Committee of Papua who expressed its highly appreciation to the Government of Indonesia under the leadership of President Jokowi who has implemented successfully the Regional Election of the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua on February 15, 2017.

The successful implementation of the Regional Election of the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua has been considered as the surprising political moment to have happened in the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua, that are considered as the two vulnerable regions of this country. Totally the ballot of the election of ten Chief of Districts and one Mayor of the Mayoralty of Jayapura to have finished without any serious opposition and complaints, though ballot has to be repeated  mainly in the district of Jayapura.

The un-answering question why did not the remnants of OPM make its eminent security harassment has provoked us likely to analyze its reason eagerly.

Accordingly strategically it is likely necessary for the Political and Security Observer concerns to analyze what has really happened in term of the possible changing of the separatist movement concerning tactic and strategic concept of their movement. This hypothetical assessment is made to find the assumption to observe the further development of this region in the coming period.

The Strategic Action that has been likely launched by the remnants of OPM

To assess this new interesting situation we should likely take as the object of our assessment a number of important situation happened during the implementation of the regional election concerned. Though there was the legal and official objection to the Regional Election Commission to the only one candidate in the election of the Mayor of the City of Jayapura but the ballot with only one candidate and one empty box without name was described as no problem by the existing political parties. The ballot with one candidate and one empty box is apparently accepted by the society without serious objection. The Papuan People likely in general  agreed with whoever will be elected as the Mayor of Jayapura as far as the candidate is a Papuan. The political expression influenced by the racial motivation is likely clear, as far as the Candidate for the Mayor is the Papuan, the Papuan society did not care about the election. This dramatic political issue was really interesting because it shows a special political attitude of the Papuan is indicated.

As other Provinces also in Papua there are two important aspects becoming the serious attention of all the regional Observers since the beginning of the year of 2017 in closing to the ballot day of February 15, 2017 namely the aspect of the regional security and the political preparation of both the General Election Commission and the readiness of the political party to be preparing its
respective candidates.

The Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua are still considered as the vulnerable Provinces because of the activity of the remnants of the Free Papua Movement Organization /OPM disturbing the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua. In line with the political objectives of the remnants of OPM their classic activities were done in the towns disturbing the political stability and harassing the peace and order of the society done by the political activists under the identification of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) creating the demonstration, riots and other mass actions. Mean while in the rural areas the armed criminals group remnants of OPM endangering the life of the civilian and even the members of the Military and Police who are not in duty were actively made with shooting and attacking.
 
However during the period of the political campaign and the ballot day those kind of security disturbances to have not happened and the implementation of the ballot have been smooth and safe. There are ten Districts and one Mayoralty have been joining the Simultaneous Regional Election of the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua on February 15, 2017 to elect ten Chief of Districts and one Mayor of the City of Jayapura. This simultaneous Regional Election is the National Agenda conducted in all around the country of Indonesia since the Province of Aceh in the western part of Indonesia until Papua in the eastern part of Indonesia.

According to the National Police the implementation of all the Regional Election of Indonesia to include in the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua on February 15, 2017 to have been successful.
 
However The Chief of Police of the Province of Papua Inspector General Paulus Waterpouw said  he is not satisfy with the situation of Papua in term of the capability of the Regional Election Commission which did not perform their mission perfectly.
   
Definitely  from the security point of view the situation of Papua was interesting because the frightening activities of the remnants of OPM that has been active since 1965 has not apparently happened. It is apparently in the period of implementation of the regional election in both the Province of Papua and the Province of West Papua the remnant of OPM has been likely stopping its classic activities to harass the implementation of the State Agenda of The Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
 
Various observers think that this surprise situation is definitely interesting attitude of the remnants of OPM and accordingly it is likely necessary to be detected. The regional election is definitely the national political agenda to implement the democratic principle in running the country. The success of the Regional Election in Papua to have been definitely showing the world the real implementation of democracy in Indonesia and mainly in respecting the human
right.

Accordingly the success of the Regional Election in Papua is definitely would neutralize the accusation on the abuse of human right principles in Papua usually hoaxed by the OPM abroad as done by Beny Wenda. Accordingly the attitude of the remnants of OPM for letting the Regional Election to be implemented peacefully has been apparently interesting to be analyzed.

Accordingly the success of the Regional Election of Papua has been especially provoking various political and security Observer to analyze what really happened concerning the peaceful attitude of the remnant of OPM in the Province of Papua and West Papua toward the implementation of the regional election to elect simultaneously ten Chief of Districts of the Province of Papua and the Province  of West Papua and the Mayor of Jayapura is really interesting.

Throwing away the classic brutal and cruel character of OPM in the past history of Papua. On end of the year of 2016, most of the Security Observers were still evaluating the armed criminals action as the activities of the remnants of the Free Papua Movement Organization/OPM was still considered as the eminent   elements to disturb the implementation of the Regional Election of Papua that will be held on February 15, 2017. However apparently there was no any activity of this armed criminal group to have been detected in the last two month during the beginning of this year. Various political and security Observer are predicting there is new idea appearing in the mind of the remnant of OPM that for their economic life the remnants of the OPM have to establish a good relation with the new Chief of District in Papuan Province.

They are likely of the same generation and to know each other. It is likely the remnants of OPM are only threatening the non Papuan individuals coming from out side Papua such as Jawa and Sulawesi. Beside of that likely the remnants of OPM are of the opinion they should have the better relation with all Chief of District of Papua for their future life.

The new Chief of District are expected to give the economic support to the remnants of OPM so that the remnant of OPM would not disturb the new District Leaders. The leaders of the remnants of OPM is apparently the new Papuan generation knowing each other with the Papuan leaders now being elected as the new Chief of District and Mayor.

Apparently various political and security Observer are also predicting the serious policy of the Central Government in Jakarta to develop Papua to have likely provoke them to trust to the Government of Indonesia, that the Central Government in Jakarta is not Colonialist Element.

The political attitude of among others President Jokowi to seriously develop Papua has been likely influencing deeply the heart of the Papuan. Without discrediting the old Indonesian leaders the present policy of President Jokowi to control totally the exploitation of Tembaga Pura has been likely also one of the significant factor influencing the attitude of the Papuan people.
The Regional Election is actually electing the new leaders of Papua with the new generation of Papuan. Now it is almost none the non Papuan figure becoming the Regional and local Government Officials of Papua. Now it is definitely true that Papua is to be led by Papuan based on the Papuan will.

The New Strategy of new Papuan generation has been also likely created that Papuan is welcoming the development of Papua granted by the Government of Indonesia and then it is might be as inspired by Scotland inhabitant in Britain or the people of Quebec in Canada, someday the Papuan will push their demand for the Referendum of Papua. The people of Papua under the leadership of Beny Wenda have been likely aware to struggle for the Referendum of Papua now is definitely impossible. The Papuan most probably  change their attitude to accept all the good offerings of the Indonesian government to develop Papua.
 
The Papuan realize that their number are increasing and the need for the economic capability of Papua to support them is definitely needed. Based on this fact Papuan are realizing that the economic development is important for Papua. Indonesia is the only Government who is wishing to support them. Not any one of those four Melanesian countries (PNG, Solomon, Vanuatu and Fidji) could be expected to support Papua and to give their money to Papuan.

Accordingly the Papuan likely is starting to be aware the will of the Indonesian government to grant the development of Papua is not definitely bad. In line with this new idea it is definitely wise for the remnant of OPM to let the regional election to be run smoothly and peacefully. The remnants of OPM are starting to realized that apparently Papua now is led by the Papuan people and managed based on the will of the Papuan society. They are likely also starting to realize that definitely Indonesia is not bad at all. The most interesting likely Papuan People starts to think that the Regional Election is done for the good of Papua nothing beneficial for the Jawanese or other people coming from outside
Papua.

The slogan Papua for the Papuan is apparently implemented now. The regional Election is definitely for the Papuan it is not definitely for the Jawanese or other non Papuan peoples of Indonesia.

The Simultaneously Regional Election of Papua is apparently the Papuan Revolutionary and Democratic Movement, The Papuan are Electing their Leaders from among the Papuan People and for the  Interest of Papuan People. The Simultaneous Regional Election of Papua is definitely the holy action of the government of the Republic of Indonesia to present the political infra structure for the Papuan Life of the future.

The Local Melanesian Solidarity

The local Melanesian solidarity is the solidarity among the Papuan people in Papua. The impact of this solidarity is in fact there is no any difference of among member of the political parties existing in Papua. In the Regional Election there is no any conflict between the followers of one Chief of District candidate with other supporters of the candidate of other Political Party. People does not care who will become the Chief of District any one is just the same as far as the Candidate is the Papuan.

This political consideration was likely becoming the essential reason why not any political conflict happened during the Regional election on February 15, 2017 and after it. The Papuan are aware that the regional election is the competition among the Papuan not any other people of outside Papua joining to compete for the job as the Chief of District in Papua.

Considering this assessment, the dramatic conflict among the Papuan in the district of  Intan Jaya was not likely provoked by the remnant of the Free Papua Movement Organization/OPM but purely by the local criminal element of Intan Jaya.

The Papuan Cultural Prospect is promised

The ending result of the Simultaneous Regional Election has been indicating the strong cultural character of Papuan people would be saved and maintained eternally in the region of Papua. The history of Papuan in the island of Papua definitely will always be there.  However Papuan has also a significant weakness, the Papuan is apparently having no any unitary language. Papuan has been united in Papua as Melanesian is not because of any Melanesian language but the Indonesian language.

Accordingly Papua will become the region as part of the Republic of Indonesia for  ever and based on the Indonesian Philosophy the Papuan region will become the culturally strong Melanesia region, among other Indonesian cultures and territory. The history will likely make the Papuan is the Melanesian who are living and to become a part of the great Indonesian nation. Papua will become strong Melanesian society  was not beause of PNG, Solomon, Vanuatu or Fidji, but because Papua is a part of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Compulsory Mission of the Indonesian Government a head

Until end of the year of 2016 the activities of the Armed Criminal group as the remnant of OPM was still existing and endangering the Regional Election to be held on Februarty 15, 2017.

However the Regional Election of February 15, 2017 has likely changed the Papuan philosophy to survive culturally as the  Melanesian among the Indonesian cultures existing in this country of Bhineka Tuggal Ika means the Country of the  Unity of Diversity.

Papua will be forever as a part of the Republic of Indonesia,  Papuan  will be united eternally not because of Melanesian language but because of the Indonesian  language. The Government of Indonesia should urgently make effort to complete all the necessary means to develop  Papua, such as the amendment of Law No 21 of 2001 for the Special Autonomy of Papua Province.

Based on the Instruction of President Jokowi the price of Oil in Papua is less than ten thousand rupiah now before it was 60 thousand rupiah per liter. Further economic development in Papua will definitely be improved. Recently Four Important Ministers namely  Minister Ignatius Yonan (Oil and Gas), Minister Basuki Hadimulyo (Public Works), Minister Sumadi (Transportation), Minister Rudiantara (Communication) had met to coordinate the implementation of their respective development Project in Papua.

*) Written by the Political and Security Observer lives in Jakarta.