Hope Living In Peace, 29 Ex-OPM In Maybrat Pledge Loyalty To The Republic Of Indonesia

A total of 29 ex-independent Papuan organizations (OPM) took the oath or pledge to be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) to take place at the Aimasa Post of the Yonif 133/YS Task Force, Kampung Aimasa, Central East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua.

Dansatgas Infantry Battalion 133/YS, Lt. Col. Inf. Andhika Ganesakti, said that it started with the Battalion 133/YS patrol team who found evidence in the form of documents containing the names of the people involved in the OPM structure of the Sorong Raya area.

"The note was found in an uninhabited empty house in Aitrem Village, East Aifat-Maybrat District. From these findings, Danpos Aimasa Task Force Battalion 133/YS summoned the people recorded in the document findings to be investigated and questioned, considering that they live in the area fostered by the Kasimasa Task Force Battalion 133/YS," said Ganesakti, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 14.

He continued, after being questioned by the Battalion 133/YS Task Force, it was true that most of them were forced to join the OPM in the Sorong Raya area because they often received intimidation from OPM frontmen.

Over time, because they often saw and felt the various acts of cruelty committed by the OPM made them realize that they had followed the path that was contrary to the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Assisted by figures in the East Aifat District and coordinating with the Aimasa Post of the Battalion 133/YS Task Force, the former OPM managed to return to their hometowns and get out of the influence of OPM understanding," he said.

"To prove their seriousness to return to the Republic of Indonesia, they asked the Battalion 133/YS Task Force to hold a special event to pledge allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia witnessed by figures in the East Aifat District and local governments," continued Ganesakti.

One of the former OPM Feliks Fomaer (30) said the reason they returned to the Republic of Indonesia was because they wanted to live a normal life, wanted to send their children to school and wanted to live a quiet life.

Meanwhile, the reason they used to join the OPM was because they were forced to even often get intimidation in the form of threats from OPM frontmen.

The event to take pledge of allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia began with respect for the red and white flag by singing the national anthem Indonesia Raya, followed by the reading of the pledge of allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia by one of the residents and followed by other pledge participants.