Maria Baru, Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) General Chairperson Agus Kossay was released from the Class IIA Abepura Penitentiary (Lapas) in Jayapura city, Papua, on Tuesday September 3. He had been imprisoned for one year.
This follows the release of KNPB Numbay Secretary General Benny Murib, who was imprisoned along with Kossay. Murib was released last July after being imprisoned for 10 months.
After being released, Kossay stated that the KNPB's enemy was not fellow colleges or the Papuan people, but the Indonesian government.
"We only have one enemy, namely colonial Indonesia. We are not against fellow colleges or the Papuan people. If we are trapped in ego and ambition, then that is fatal. This must be discarded", said Kossay in a statement.
He also invited KNPB members and the Papuan people to rely on God in all things so that they will not die in vain.
He believes that the Lord Jesus is currently testing the KNPB as a vehicle for the liberation of the Papuan people. So that the resistance movement continues to exist in the Land of Papua even though many comrades have been arrested, imprisoned and killed.
"Every person's right to take a breath is from God. We can fight with our intelligence, our bravery, but when we do not rely on God, then we will die in vain."
"The KNPB, from its formation in 2008 until today is because of the power of the Lord Jesus. His power is with KNPB, even though we are arrested, imprisoned and killed, it still exists because the power of God is still here."
"The power of truth is in the KNPB. Sixteen years is extraordinary, meaning that God continues to test the KNPB, so that the nation under him is released by the KNPB as a medium of liberation", said Kossay giving witness.
KNPB international spokesperson Victor Yeimo said that the release of Kossay and Murib carries a message and meaning in the Papuan struggle because it coincides with Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Indonesia and the KNPB itself is in a state of national mourning.
"For me, the release of KNPB General Chairperson Agus Kossay means a lot. He was released in a sad situation. He was released during an extraordinary visit by Pope Francis. He came out giving a special meaning to the struggle of the Papuan nation", said Yeimo.
Yeimo continued saying the lesson from Kossay and Murib's release is that in every struggle for truth, there are always people alongside us who become opponents, as experienced by Jesus in his holy mission where there were always traitors among his 12 disciples.
"What we can learn from Agus Kossay and Benny Murib is that in every struggle for truth there will always be people beside us who will become opponents. Remember that Jesus Christ in his holy mission always had traitors among his 12 disciples", said Yeimo in a speech at the thanksgiving event for Kossay's release.
Meanwhile Murib said that every problem has a solution, so the KNPB and the Papuan people should not retreat from problems. Murib said that problems are common in a struggle, but the extraordinary thing will be when Papua is independent and free from colonialism.
"Therefore, all fighters, let us unite. Let us unite our ranks and fight colonialism, imperialism and capitalism in the Land of Papua. Our enemy is one and the struggle of the Papuan people is not something new, but God has created it since its birth", said Murib.
For that reason, Murib emphasised, the struggle goes on and must be continued.
Notes
Kossay and Murib were arrested for alleged assault and incitement over an incident that occurred in Sentani, Jayapura district, on August 18, 2023. The national morning mentioned to by Yeimo refers to the death KNPB cadre Selvi Heluka, who died at the Leona Kupang Hospital in East Nusa Tenggara on Sunday September 3 after a short illness.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Pesan Agus Kossay Usai Bebas dari Lapas Abepura".]
Source: https://suarapapua.com/2024/09/05/pesan-agus-kossay-usai-bebas-dari-lapas-abepura/
