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Insight: Youth at forefront of Papuan protests: Don't ignore them
The demonstrations expressed students’ disappointment on how the authorities handle racial abuse, while their political aspirations can expect to continuously meet strong resistance from the central government.
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The aggrieved: Escorted by military personnel and police officers, Papuans demonstrate in front of the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta. Protesters called on the government to take seriously cases of physical and racial abuse against Papuan students by security personnel in Surabaya, East Java. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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or the first time in Indonesian history, the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag as the symbol of Papuan culture and identity was recently flown outside of Papua, including in Jakarta.
A group of Papuan students waved the flag while rallying near the State Palace. Similar events took place in the Central Java cities of Semarang and Salatiga, Yogyakarta and Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.
While chanting “freedom”, Papuan students condemned racial slurs directed at them by individuals and organizations in Malang and Surabaya, East Java, on Aug. 15 and 16.
After years of enduring an intimidating environment, the Papuan students found their “Papuan moment” in rallies on Aug. 19 to 29 to display their political aspirations right in the capital.
While many have focused on racial prejudice, few have highlighted the role of Papuan youth in protesting long running grievances, from history to human rights issues among Papuans.
The protests in and outside Papua signify one important feature: the Papuan youth are the frontrunners of publicly expressing all the injustices Papuans experience.
In all the protests, including in the regencies and cities of Fakfak, Manokwari, Sorong, Timika, Jayapura, Deiyai, Wamena, Dogiyai, Yahukimo, Pegunungan Bintang and Pania, young Papuans were key figures in mobilizing or coordinating at the grass roots.
