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Papuans continue protests, demand justice against racist abusers
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Some 7,000 people from four regencies in Papua march along the street in Wamena, dancing and chanting “Papua Merdeka” (Free Papua), on Monday. They demanded the government immediately prosecute people committing racial abuse against Papuans. (JP/Courtesy of Bonny Lanny)
P
eaceful demonstrations continued in Papua on Monday with thousands of people from four regencies, namely Yahukimo, Lanny Jaya, Tolikara and Nduga, gathering in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency to demand the government immediately prosecute people who commit racial abuse against Papuans. The protests were coordinated under the Papua Customary Council.
"Other protesters gathered in Madi, the regency capital of Paniai. We also staged other protests in Deiyai and Dogiyai regencies," Catholic priest Santon Tekege told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Monday.
Santon added that thousands of protesters in several areas marched along the street, dancing and chanting “Papua Merdeka” (Free Papua).
In Wamena, around 7,000 people marched to the Jayawijaya regent’s office. As the office yard could not hold more than 5,000 people, protesters spilled onto the streets in front of the office.
Wamena-based activist Bonny Lanny said the protesters demanded the authorities take firm action in relation to the recent situation unfolding across Papua. “Our main demand is for the government to immediately prosecute people committing racial abuse [against Papuans],” he said.
Moreover, protesters also demanded the authorities work on returning Papuan students who are studying in other regions across the archipelago. This was in order to prevent the students from experiencing further racial abuse, protesters argued.
