At The Constitutional Court Session, Intan Jaya Bawaslu Members Disbursed That They Had Been Persecute With The OPM

Screenshot - Members of Bawaslu Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, Otniel Tipagau (right) answered the question of Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat

JAKARTA - Members of the Intan Jaya Regency Bawaslu, Central Papua, Otniel Tipagau revealed that his party was held hostage by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) when they wanted to carry out the 2024 General Election voting.

Initially, in the 2024 Legislative Election PHPU session which was held at the Constitutional Court building, the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Three Justices Panel Arief Hidayat asked whether it was true that the vote in the district was postponed from February 14 to February 23.

Otniel confirmed that the vote in the five districts in the district was postponed and he was assigned to the Homeyo District. He also revealed the reason for delaying the voting in Homeyo District was because his party was held hostage by the OPM.

"At that time there was indeed a plane hostage. We also negotiated because indeed the airline must have proof of a letter signed by the OPM so that it can enter the region," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 6.

Because he was held hostage, he said, his party also lobbied so that the voting date was postponed to February 23. Then, Arief asked if they experienced persecution when they were arrested.

"When we were arrested we weren't persecuted? No, because they only asked for money. When we took the plane hostage, we gave the wrong money to the OPM in another place, so there (the location of the hostage-taking) they asked for," said Otniel.

"How much money did you ask for?" asked Arief back.

"Our first (OPM) has given us Rp150 million, then (second OPM) which we gave around Rp25 million," said Otniel.

He revealed that the money with large numbers was collected from the gifts given by several parties, including from legislative candidates. He also said that he was arrested for about eight hours.

"Indeed, if I explain, Intan Jaya Regency is indeed a terrible terrain. At that time, I was intercepted and arrested from 7 am until 3 pm," he said.

For this incident, Otniel has reported it to the Supervision Result Report (LHP) addressed to the leaders of Intan Jaya Bawaslu, Papua Province Bawaslu, to Bawaslu.

After hearing Otniel's explanation, Arief also considered the postponement of the date to still make sense.

"So, the atmosphere is not safe, yes, so the resignation can still be accepted with common sense and logically can be approved by all parties to be postponed, and that the postponement of negotiations can only be carried out on February 23," he said.

"Broadly speaking," said Otniel in response.