Debate On Human Rights In The Middle Of The Papuan Armed Criminal Group Threat

JAKARTA - Violence committed by armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua has not stopped. Not only against the security forces but also violence against civilians.

Most recently, the Head of the Regional State Intelligence Agency (BIN) (Kabinda) Papua Brigadier General I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya was shot dead by KKB in Dambet Village, Beoga District, Puncak Regency, Papua on Sunday, April 25.

Then, three members of Brimob became victims during a shootout between the National Army-National Police (TNI-Polri) joint team and the armed criminal group (KKB) in Ilaga, Puncak, Papua. Two of them managed to survive because they were only shot in the stomach and back.

In the midst of this problem, there is a debate about human rights. Initially, the Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) asked the National Army (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) apparatus to act without tolerance for KKB who committed criminal acts that resulted in casualties.

"I ask the government and the security apparatus not to hesitate and immediately deploy their full strength to crush the KKB in Papua which has claimed lives again. It will be finished first. We will discuss human rights matters later", said Bamsoet on Monday, April 26.

If necessary, said Bamsoet, the government should reduce the strength of the 4 best dimensions besides Brimob Polri, namely Gultor Kopassus, Raiders, Bravo, and Denjaka. Then, the authorities were given one month to quell the KKB.

"The TNI, Polri, and intelligence apparatus must continue to pursue and take firm action against the KKB without hesitation with our full strength. We must not allow separatist groups to continue to carry out actions that result in casualties", he said.

Then, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid regretted Bamsoet's statement that asked the government to completely crush the KKB.

Usman reminded that Bamsoet's statement about the desire to destroy the KKB ignored the principles of human rights. Usman considers that the statement has the potential to encourage an escalation of violence in Papua and West Papua.

"We deeply regret the statement by the Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly that ignores human rights. Human rights are a constitutional obligation so they must be a priority in every state policy. Putting aside human rights is not only against international law but also unconstitutional", said Usman, Tuesday, April 27th.

This statement was again debated by Bamsoet. According to Bamsoet, there should be no room for tolerance for the proliferation of separatist and terrorist movements in Indonesia, which have even been labeled by BIN.

"Are the separatists and terrorists using the theory of human rights when they kill the people and apparatus on duty? Brush it off. Crush and flatten the inhuman separatists and terrorists", said Bamsoet.

From the aspects of defense, national security, and law, continued Bamsoet, it is clear that the KKB in Papua is not an ordinary armed criminal group. According to him, the KKB is a movement that has the goal of separating itself from the Republic of Indonesia.

"They clearly do not have the right to self-determination. Because, when Papua became an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia based on the 1962 New York Agreement, the right to self-determination was invalidated by law", explained the former chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR).