KKB terror hampers development of welfare of Papuan people

JAKARTA — Head of the Terrorism Studies Study Program at the University of Indonesia, Muhammad Syauqillah, highlighted the impact of a series of terror acts carried out by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in Papua.

According to him, the existence of the KKB is a serious obstacle to efforts to develop the welfare of the Papuan people which are being promoted by the government.

“If conflict continues to occur, Papua’s development will be hampered. In fact, Papua’s future really depends on these development efforts,” said Syauqillah, Monday (8/9).

He emphasized that the terror launched by the KKB was actually contrary to the aim of infrastructure development which was actually intended for the Papuan people. The acts of violence carried out by this group had a negative impact on all levels of Papuan society, especially in terms of accessibility between regions.

“For example, the construction of inter-regional road access is disrupted. As a result, people’s welfare is hampered because the mobility and distribution of goods does not run smoothly,” he added.

Syauqillah also underlined the importance of a more comprehensive handling strategy for the KKB problem.

According to him, the government needs to combine soft and hard approaches in dealing with this conflict. Soft approaches, such as dialogue and negotiation, are considered to need to be strengthened to achieve sustainable solutions.

“Resolving this conflict must involve all stakeholders, both at the local and national levels. Without joint commitment, peace will not be achieved,” he said.

He also emphasized that the resolution of the KKB problem must be based on the values ​​of Pancasila, especially the 4th principle regarding deliberation and the 3rd principle regarding Indonesian unity.

According to him, these values ​​must be used as guidelines in building agreement and justice for the Papuan people.

“The Pancasila approach must be our basis for resolving this problem. This is not only about security, but also about how we build social justice for all Papuan people,” he concluded.

A series of attacks launched by the KKB from 2017 to 2024 have killed civilians and security forces. These attacks not only cause casualties, but also trigger fear among civilians who are the main targets.

Attacks on civilians, who under international law are protected in conflict situations, constitute a grave violation of humanitarian principles. According to many parties, this crime cannot be justified for any reason and adds to the urgency of immediately resolving the KKB problem in Papua.

The government is now faced with a big challenge to restore a sense of security and continue developing the infrastructure that the Papuan people really need.