The OPM leader, Lambert Pekikir, said that the Indonesian government is always trying to demonize the OPM He said that they (the OPM) are well aware of the recent spate of shootings since shots were fired at a German visitor some weeks ago, having read all about it in the local media. ‘Like others, we too are very confused with these developments.’ He said: ‘We have written to the government and to all relevant governmental institutions that we are not responsible for these acts of terror.’
He said the OPM as making preparations to fly the Morning Star flag on 1 July this year to mark the organisation’s anniversary but this is in no way connected with any acts of terror. ‘Such actions are simply not on our agenda,’ he said.
The NGO, ELSHAM-Papua said that these acts of terror are part of a project by the government to stigmatize indigenous Papuans as being people who are spreading anarchy and willing to murder anyone.
He drew attention to the fact that the latest series of shootings have occurred at a time when the international community is showing greater attention to the violations of human rights in Papua. He pointed to the fact that the targets of these latest shootings were all foreigners or immigrants from elsewhere in Indonesia.’There is no reason to believe that the military wing of the OPM – the TPN-OPM – would have the slightest reason to shoot ojek drivers or schoolchildren.
Ferdinand said that the authorities want to convince the international community that the TPN-OPM want to kill immigrants. They have made it clear that they are waging their struggle peacefully and will not allow themselves to pursue the path of violence.
‘We once again call on the police to thoroughly investigate these acts of terror and reveal who it is who is behind them so as to put an end to these attempts to demonize the Papuan people.’
[Translated by TAPOL]
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