Jayapura, Jubi – The Alliance of Student Executive Body (BEM) Nusantara in Jayapura refuses the plan to add 8,000 security forces to safeguard the 20th National Games (PON XX) to be held in October.
Papua head of BEM Nusantara Unas Ginia said his party had asked the event chairman, Yunus Wonda, to tell the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police not to send more forces to Papua to secure the PON XX. However, the student alliance recently heard that the authority would carry on with the plan of sending additional forces.
“They say they’re coming here to secure the event but we think we’re secure already. They keep sending more troops but no withdrawal at all. Meanwhile, the Papuan people are traumatized by the TNI and police,” Ginia told Jubi on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
Ginia hoped that security matters be handled by the event’s human resources department, who has recruited security volunteers some time ago.
“With the large presence of the security forces, the people will not be able to enjoy the game. Therefore, we ask the Indonesian government and the PON XX committee not to add more troops to Papua,” said Ginia.
Head of Cenderawasih University BEM (BEM Uncen) Yops Itlay supported the refusal of security forces. He said the demand was based on the Papuan people’s psychological condition, in which the people had developed a fear of the TNI and police after a series of violence committed by the forces toward the Papuans.
“This does not mean we are against the TNI and police. This is a trauma response, trauma is a [painful] memory embedded for a long time throughout the years. Please consider not to send more forces to Papua,” Itlay said.
Itlay added that deploying 8,000 troops would only raise doubts on the Indonesian sport event’s security. “The people will also doubt the state’s ability to provide security and safety in Papua land,” he said.
Editor: Edho Sinaga
