Achmad F. (Writer/Former National Media Journalist)
Frans called on the people of the West Irian region to support the integration of the West Irian region into the bosom of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesia’s history of maintaining Papua to be part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is very long and tortuous. This journey started from the beginning of the struggle for Indonesian independence.
Sukarno as the first President of the Republic of Indonesia fought this struggle. Sukarno urged the Dutch to surrender and recognize Indonesian sovereignty in Papua at the Mother’s Table Conference in 1949 in The Hague, The Netherlands. It was a tortuous struggle because President Sukarno was dubbed a warmonger and expansionist by the West. This struggle was described by Sukarno in a book written by Cindy Adam entitled “Bung Karno: Connecting the Tongues of the Indonesian People”.
This struggle was not carried out by Sukarno alone. The Papuan people who have declared the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia as their bloodbath are fighting an equally fierce struggle. They are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the Red and White to keep flying on the red soil.
A number of national heroes who are indigenous Papuan, have been immortal in the history of the nation. Their names are remembered by history as brave, loyal, and nationalist heroes of the NRKI.
The heroes are Frans Kaisepo, Johannes Abraham Dimara, Silas Papare, and Marthen Indey. How are the progress and struggles of these heroes? following reviews:
The first national hero in the history of the Indonesian nation’s struggle is Frans Kaisepo. The figure of Frans on 19 December 2016 was immortalized in new Rupiah banknotes in the Rp10 thousand denomination.
Frans is a native Papuan who was born in Wardo, Biak, Papua on October 10, 1921. He involved in the formation of the United Republic of Indonesia at the Malino Conference in 1946 to represents Papua. At that time, Frans suggested the name Irian, a word in the Biak language which means a hot place.
Frans is also said, played the national anthem Indonesia Raya in Kampung Harapan Jayapura three days before the Proclamation, August 14, 1945 to be precise. A few days after the proclamation was read, on August 31, 1945, Frans and his colleagues held a ceremony by raising the Red and White flag and singing the national anthem.
Frans’s patriotism made him elected Governor of Papua between 1964-1973. He died on April 10, 1979 and buried in the Cendrawasih Heroes Cemetery, Jayapura. The government commemorates Frans’s services and immortalizes it as the name of Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak. Not only that, respect for Frans was also immortalized on one of the KRIs, KRI Frans Kaisiepo.
Frans also became a national hero based on Presidential Decree number 077 / TK / 1993. Frans was awarded the Second Class Maha Putera Adi Pradana Star.
The second trail of national heroes in Papua named, Johannes Abraham Dimara. Johanes is a member of the TNI with the last rank of Major. Johanes was born in Korem, North Biak, Papua, April 16, 1916.
Johanes participated in raising the Red and White Flag in Namlea, Buru Island, Maluku in 1946. His love for the Republic of Indonesia made Johanes involved in fighting for the return of West Irian to the Republic of Indonesia. In 1950, he was appointed Chairman of the OPI (Organization for the Liberation of West Irian).
Johannes had carried out an infiltration in 1954. This resulted in Johanes being captured by the Dutch Royal army and exiled to Digul. He was released in 1960.
Johanes was included in the list of young Papuans and together with Bung Karno joined in calling for Trikora (combining the western part of Papua) in Yogyakarta. Frans also called on the people of the West Irian region to support the integration of the West Irian region into the bosom of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Then in 1962 the New York Agreement was held.
Johannes attended the New York Agreement and became one of the delegates with the Indonesian Foreign Minister. The New York Agreement contains the obligation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to hand over the West Irian region to the government of the Republic of Indonesia.
This brave hero died in Jakarta on October 20, 2000. For the Java carved by Johanes for the sake of the Republic of Indonesia, the government gave a token of appreciation in the form of the Satyalancana War of Independence and Satyalancana Bhakti. The Indonesian government also awarded the title of National Hero based on Presidential Decree No. 113 / TK / 2011.
Next, Silas Papare became the third national hero recorded in the history of the Republic of Indonesia. Silas was born in Serui, Papua, 18 December 1918. Silas is a fighter for the integration of Irian Jaya (Papua) into Indonesian territory.
Silas was known to be persistent in fighting for Papuan independence and fighting against Dutch colonialism. This struggle made Silas often deal with the Dutch security apparatus. He was jailed in Jayapura for influencing the Papuan Battalion to rebel.
Silas became acquainted with Dr. Sam Ratulangi while serving a prison term in Serui, Papua, Silas. Dr. Sam Ratulangi is the Governor of Sulawesi who was exiled by the Dutch to the place. From this introduction, Silas became increasingly convinced that Papua should be free and join the Republic of Indonesia.
Silas founded the Irian Struggle Agency in Yogyakarta in October 1949 in Yogyakarta. This agency is intended to assist the government of the Republic of Indonesia to enter West Irian into the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. Silas is also active in the West Irian Liberation National Front (FNPIB).
Silas’ nationalism made him trusted by President Sukarno as one of the Indonesian delegates in the New York Agreement signed on August 15, 1962. This New York Agreement ended Indonesia’s confrontation with the Netherlands over West Irian. Silas became a member of the MPRS (Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly) after the unification of West Irian.
The name of Silas is immortalized as the Parchim Class Corvette Warship of the Navy KRI Silas Papare with hull number 386. The Silas Papare monument near the coast and Serui sea port is also dedicated to commemorating Silas’ services.
Other than that, Silas is also immortalized as the name of the Silas Papare College of Social and Political Sciences (STISIPOL) on Jalan Diponegoro, Jayapura. Meanwhile, in the city of Nabire, the name Silas Papare is remembered in the form of street names.
The next national hero from Papua is Marthen Indey. Marthen, a Papuan who was born on March 14, 1912 in Doromena. Marthen helped prepare a rebellion against the Dutch in West Irian (now Irian Jaya) at the end of December 1945.
Marthen was involved in the Free Indonesia Committee in October 1946. In 1962, he formulated a guerrilla force and helped rescue RPKAD members in West Irian during TRIKORA.
Together with Silas Papare, Marthen became the Indonesian delegation under the New York Agreement. Just like Silas, Marthen became a member of the MPRS representing Irian Jaya from 1963-1968. Marthen also served as titular major and controller seconded to the Jayapura Resident.
This brave Papuan died on July 17, 1986. Marthen is remembered as a national hero by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia based on Presidential Decree No. 077 / TK / 1993 dated. 14 September 1993.
Those are the people of Papua who are loyal to the Republic of Indonesia. In their soul, the NKRI of their beloved homeland is engraved until they close their eyes. ()
Source:
https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/pahlawan-pahlawan-nasional-gagah-berani-dari-papua.html?page=5
https://www.idntimes.com/news/indonesia/lia-hutasoit-1/deretan-pahlawan-pemberani-asal-papua-yang-berhasil-menyatukan-nkri/4
https://www.idntimes.com/news/indonesia/aulia-fitria/demi-papua-sukarno-dan-diplomat-ri-sering-dilecehkan-di-pbb/1
