Separatism must not survive

Separatism must not survive

From Media Indonesia

Of the various separatist movements and rebellions in Indonesia since 1947, only two relatively strong armed separatist groups have survived, namely the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

GAM is apparently the most solid in military and political terms. This movement has become an international issue and established cooperation with foreign citizens abroad with high diplomatic skills, including Hasan Tiro.

The problem of separatism involves national disintegration; the dulled values of nationalism, the dampened spirit of unity and the misinterpretation of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The government treats the armed separatist groups in Aceh and Papua as one of the country's threats to the continuity of NKRI. Therefore, the government should stamp out the movements in Aceh, Papua and anywhere else without delay.

NKRI was set up through a lot of sacrifice by the nation's founding fathers and heroes, so that not a piece of land should be separated from the unitary state, which is already final. There must be no other separate freedom except within the territory of NKRI.

ERWIN GUNAWAN Bogor, West Java