OPM Burns Middle School Building, Government Urged To Open Emergency Schools Soon

TPNPB OPM burned school buildings in the Bintang Mountains. (Special)

JAKARTA - The DPR condemned the burning of a school building carried out by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in Borban Village, Okbap District, Papua. The DPR urges the Government to continue to ensure that children can still study at school.

"We strongly condemn the burning of schools carried out by OPM. Schools are a means for our children to receive education for their future and national development," said Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti, Wednesday, July 17.

The DPR encourages the Government to pay more attention to educational services in this case. Even though the school building was burned, Agustina asked the Government to prepare a way so that children could still learn.

"For Commission X, we want to ensure that children can still go to school even though they may be in a simple sarpras (infrastructure) condition. Schools should not stop," he said.

Agustina assessed that this warning is important considering that in a disaster situation, education matters are not used as a priority. Whereas proper education services are the obligation of the Government to every Indonesian citizen in accordance with the mandate of the constitution, especially Article 31 Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution.

"Unfortunately, our disaster law does not include education as a priority. So if you wait for the building to be rebuilt, you can go to school at any time," said Agustina.

Commission X of the DPR encourages the local government to respond quickly to this problem. Agustina said it was important to provide temporary educational facilities for students whose schools were burned by OPM.

"Open an emergency school. Don't wait for the school to be built. If necessary or necessary, use education emergency funds," said the legislator from the Central Java IV electoral district.

Agustina emphasized the importance of the Government to immediately repair and rebuild the burning school building. He stated that education is one of the needs of all Indonesian children without exception.

"Once again we emphasize that these Papuan children must stay in school," said Agustina.

Regarding the burning of the school building in Papua, Commission X of the DPR assessed that this was a violation of human rights, especially children's basic rights. Agustina said that the burning of the junior high school building was not only damaging public facilities but had also interfered with children's rights to education.

"School fires not only damage educational facilities, but also violate the rights of children in Papua to get proper education," he said.

Moreover, in the video circulating, OPM can also be seen raising the Morning Star flag after the burning of the school. This is considered a form of intimidation for children in Papua.