“We Only Want to Study Safely”

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Students clean a classroom in Wamena 1 state junior high school in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, on Monday (7/10/2019).

Appeals and plans have been conveyed by government officials in connection with the restoration of the situation in Wamena, Papua. Students who have since 23 September been unable to go to school, just want something simple: to be safe and happy at school.

On Tuesday (8 October 2019) noon, Sifra Pibral, 10, was playing cheerfully with 12 peers in the front yard of the Tongkonan building in Kotaraja, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua. They were standing, forming a circle.

They were laughing and joking around. No sad faces were apparent at the time. All of them looked fine.

They were all students from several primary schools (SD) in Wamena. “We’re still scared of returning to Wamena. Mr. President, we plead to be able to study again in Wamena,” said the fourth grader of SD Triesa Unggul.

She has been living in a building owned by the Toraja Family Association of Papua province for two weeks. This place accommodates 1,028 evacuees from Toraja, South Sulawesi, who had settled in Wamena.

Sifra, along with thousands of evacuees spent the night in the auditorium of the building, which is 14 meters wide and 50 meters long. Adults and children slept on mattresses. Some only used mats. They were provided food, clean water and health service stations.

"By attending school, she can get consolation and meet new friends. There was no problem with the school."

However, it wasn’t ideal for daily activities, including study. Playing all the time also made them bored. “I want to attend school again soon,” said Sifra.

Unwilling to waste time, on Tuesday morning, Nuraini, 9, started going to school in SD Pakkabba in North Galesong district, Takalar, South Sulawesi. She was eager to study again.

“She wanted it and I also thought she shouldn’t be absent too long. By attending school, she can get consolation and meet new friends. There was no problem with the school. We reported on Monday and she entered on Tuesday,” said Andriani, 27, Nuraini’s mother.

They arrived in Makassar after a long journey from Wamena to Jayapura, followed by five days and four nights of voyage to reach Makassar on Saturday (5 October).

The same was done by Marten Kabak, 39, who promptly handled his child’s enrollment in a junior high school (SMP) in Sesean district, North Toraja. His child, Juni Pabaso, a seventh-grade SMP student, chose to directly study several days after arriving in her village. Juni’s three younger siblings also joined a primary school there.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Students of SMP Negeri 1 state junior high school in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, dance as they follow instructions from one of their teachers at the start of their learning activities on Monday (7/10/2019). Schools throughout Wamena had halted operations because of riots on 23 September 2019.

“We had no problem. When we reported, the schools registered and they could study straight away. Praise the Lord, our school enrollment was facilitated so that the children won’t lag behind in their lessons,” he said.

Those who remain

Far away in Wamena, Jayawijaya, the students who remain at the foot of Baliem Valley began to go back to school on Monday. The first day was spent cleaning classrooms and enjoying their reunion with schoolmates after being separated for more than two weeks.

“I’ve had nothing to do at home for a few weeks. The time has come now for us to catch up with school lessons,” said Yapela Adnawas, 16, a tenth-grade student at SMA 1 Wamena state senior high school.

On Monday, she was sweeping lots of broken glass on the floor of her classroom. SMA 1 was one of the 19 schools damaged by the recent riot. Other schools also still have to be repaired before they can be optimally utilized.

When the riot occurred at around 8 a.m. East Indonesia Time, Yapela and 35 classmates were taking a mid-semester test. The test had only just begun when the riot broke out.

At present, they are focusing on the relief of trauma suffered by teachers and students.

“We were hiding under tables when the masses were breaking panes. They only left the school after the police arrived an hour later,” she said. She still feels scared as she remembers the incident.

SMAN 1 Wamena Principal Yoseph Wibisono said the riot prevented the school from realizing the mid-semester test. It’s now too late.

At present, they are focusing on the relief of trauma suffered by teachers and students. This is done along with among others Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI). Only thereafter will the school be prepared to handle the semester test in November.

On Monday, the average presence of students in 61 schools was only 10-20 percent. For instance, in SMAN 1 Wamena only 200 students were present out of a total of 947. In State SMP 1 Wamena only 190 were in attendance out of its 1,097 students.

According to Secretary of the Education Office of Jayawijaya regency, Bambang Budiandoyo, the educational sector suffered the severe impact of the protests that ended in violence. It was triggered by fake news about a racist remark by one teacher to students in the Senior High School (SMA) of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI), Wamena.

“This incident caused about 200 teachers and thousands of students to evacuate. We’ve sought the assistance of 30 teachers from Yayasan Indonesia Cerdas (foundation),” said Bambang.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Up to 190 students of SMP Negeri 1 state junior high school in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, greet their teachers when classes were restarted on Monday (7/10/2019). Schools throughout Wamena had halted operations because of riots on 23 September 2019.

Wamena has a total of 61 schools, made up of 11 kindergartens (TK), 22 SDs, 16 SMPs, 5 vocational high schools (SMK) and 7 SMAs. Provisional data show that the number of SD and SMP students reaches 11,203. The total of SMA, SMK, TK and Early Childhood Educational Unit (PAUD) students is being recorded.

Before evacuees in Wamena on Tuesday,  Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto emphasized the presence of security guarantee. The Indonesian Military Commander and the National Police Chief had given the guarantee so that residents from whatever regions in Wamena were called upon to be calm and remain there.

Also present on the occasion were Health Minister Nila Moeloek, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno. They were conducting an inspection of the situation in the wake of the riot that claimed the lives of 31 people.

In Jakarta, President Joko Widodo presided over a limited meeting to discuss several matters including the restoration of Wamena. One of the topics dealt with concerned the impact on and the rehabilitation cost of social and economic infrastructure.

In Wamena, a teacher of presidential-instruction aided SD Mulele, Servim Bumbungan, said he warmly welcomed the government’s commitment to guarantee security. Already working for 19 years in Wamena, he will not return to his birth place. It’s on the condition that the security is real.

(FLO/REN/EDN/INA/SAN)