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Papuan villagers join second wave of protests, demand referendum
The protests on Monday happened in Deiyai, Paniai, Dogiyai in the Mee Pago customary territory and in Jayawijaya and Pegunungan Bintang in the La-Pago customary territory.
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Thousands of people in Dogiyai regency in Papua rally against racism and demand a referendum on Aug. 26. (Handout/-)
T
his week saw a second wave of protests against racism erupt in Papuan regencies, this time with thousands of villagers donning customary attire and joining their urban counterparts to fill the streets chanting words brimming with Papuan pride. Many shouted “Freedom!” while some demanded a referendum on self-determination.
A video, verified by locals contacted by The Jakarta Post, showed hundreds of residents from several kampung in Papua province pour into a street in downtown Waghete in Deiyai regency. Carrying bows and arrows, they yelled victory chants usually heard during the waita dance, which marks victory in wars or other achievements.
Protests also happened on Monday in Dogiyai and Paniai regencies, which are located in the Mee Pago customary territory. In another video, also confirmed by locals contacted by the Post, thousands of people, some carrying bows and arrows, gathered in a field in Dogiyai regency on Monday, shouting the same chants. One of the participants talked in a local language, translated by another to Indonesian, to call upon all Papuan students outside Papua to return home.
This public outrage stemmed from racist abuse and violence inflicted upon Papuan students living in a dorm in Surabaya, East Java, where some military personnel were caught on camera calling the students “monkeys”, “pigs” and “dogs” on Aug. 16.
A government-imposed internet blackout in Papua and West Papua provinces made it difficult for journalists to get information, but on Tuesday the Post managed to obtain some videos and photos and verified the content remotely with locals in each city. Reports from locals said that protests also happened in the La-Pago customary territory, which includes Wamena in Jayawijaya regency, and Pegunungan Bintang regency.
Asking for referendum
Monday’s protests were the second wave after marches took place in at least eight cities and regencies in the region’s five other customary territories: Mamta, Saireri, Domberai, Bomberai and Ha Anin. There are, in total, seven customary territories in the two provinces. Last week, thousands in Sorong and Manokwari in West Papua and in Nabire, Jayapura, Merauke, Biak, Fakfak and Mimika in Papua, expressed their outrage against racism.
