SECURITIZATION OF TERRORIST SEPARATIST GROUPS IN PAPUA: A STUDY OF POLITICAL FRAMING BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT

Abstract

The escalation of conflict caused by the Free West Papua Movement in the last five years certainly requires handling by the Indonesian Government. In its securitization process, the Government started with a speech act by labelling this pro-independence group as a Terrorist Separatist Group. Using a political framing perspective, the aim of this paper can be achieved using four main analytical components: the focus of strategic actors, the actor's decision to be positive or negative, and the actions taken by the actor, whether to be offensive or defensive. Finally, the final component will be taken by analyzing these three components: the substantive framework for following up on this securitization effort. This research uses a securitization and political framing perspective with a qualitative approach using primary and secondary data. It concludes that after framing is carried out, the Government needs to formulate a serious substantive framework with a more inclusive approach, considering aspects of justice and human rights and evaluating existing framing to achieve a peaceful solution for all parties involved. The Government also needs to open further discussions regarding the root of the problem and provide treatment according to it. The results obtained can be useful for political scientists, regional and national governments, and the wider community in understanding the direction of Indonesian government policy regarding handling security in Papua.