PDIP Politician Effendi Simbolon: I'm Worried That The Special Autonomy Law Is Not The Answer To The Papuan Problem

ILLUSTRATION/SENTANI PAPUA/ANTARA

JAKARTA - A member of the PDIP faction in the DPR (House of Representatives), Effendi Simbolon, is concerned that Law 2/2021 Second Amendment to Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province will not be a solution to the problems that occur in Cenderawasih Earth.

This is because, according to him, the government's approach to issues in Papua is still far behind the movement that wants a referendum itself. "If you look at our current strategy, to be honest, we are lagging behind the referendum movements themselves. I'm afraid the new Special Autonomy Law is not the answer", said Effendi at the DPR building, Thursday, September 23.

According to the member of the House of Representatives Commission I in charge of defense, the movement of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in Papua is carried out in an integrated manner. In fact, he said, recently the voices of the Papuan issue at the UN general assembly have also been quite strong.

Therefore, according to him, extra work is needed from the government to really reduce the problems that occur in Papua.

"It is difficult for us to attract the sympathy of the people, which can be said that many are in favor of their group's struggle", explained Effendi.

The PDIP politician added that the complexity of the problems in Papua is basically difficult to make a single definition. For this reason, he said, the strategy and approach that should be taken by the government should not be left behind from the efforts of the Papuan referendum movements themselves.

"We are belittling them more and more like terrorists. We should not then easily make terminology, stigmatize groups in Poso, for example, who are indeed terrorists", said Effendi.