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AYAPURA, Papua: Jakarta frequently intimidates Papua in the name of the unity and integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, even though such a stance creates a culture of fear among Papuan officials with strategic positions in regional administrations, an activist says.

The statement was made by Papua Human Rights Working Network coordinator Fien Yarangga on Monday.

Fien made the remarks at a press conference in connection with the rejection of prominent Papuan figure Hana Hikoyabi as a member of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) for the 2011-2016 period by the home minister.

Fien said that a culture of intimidation had curtailed the development of democratization in Papua.

She cited the refusal to accept Hana Hikoyabi as a member of the MRP after she was declared not to be loyal to the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution despite the fact that Hana had met all the requirements for the position.

“There was no legal basis for this. It is more political intimidation and character assassination against Hana and even against all the Papuan people who selected Hana,” she said.

“The way taken by the home minister was also aimed at curbing critical Papuan women in defending their own people,” Fein said. — JP