Papuan people hold a rally on Thursday (22/8/2019) at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta to protest the recent discrimination and violence against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang. The Papuan rally joined forces with the 598th Aksi Kamisan (Thursday Action) movement and called for solidarity against racism.
BOGOR, KOMPAS —President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has asked the National Police to take legal action against the racial and ethnic discrimination of Papuan students. The President will also invite Papua and West Papua community leaders to discuss an accelerated program to improve the welfare of people in the two provinces.
"I have ordered the National Police chief to take stern legal action against racial and ethnic discrimination. Please underline this," the President told reporters on Thursday (22/8/2019) at Bogor Palace, West Java, accompanied by State Secretary Pratikno.
The President made his statement in response to the public protests that had been held in a number of regions in Papua and West Papua since Monday, including Sorong. The demonstrations were held to protest the racial abuse of Papuan students in East Java.
The demonstrations have since ended, and vehicles have returned to the streets of Sorong. Shops and markets have reopened.
Conditions in Jayapura and Manokwari have also returned to normal. "We still met with several demonstrations in a number of areas, such as Nabire and Yahukimo, but the demonstrations were calm and peaceful," said Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Rudolf Albert Rodja.
Internet access will be restored to Papua after the situation has returned to normal. "The current situation has begun returning to normal. We expect it to become completely safe so we can lift the internet blackout," said acting public relations head Ferdinandus Setu of the Communications and Information Ministry.
The ministry has limited internet access in a number of areas in Papua and West Papua since Wednesday in order to stop the spread of fake news that could worsen the situation in the two provinces.
Follow-up
The President said he was closely following the situation in Papua and West Papua, and expressed his gratefulness that the situation had returned to normal. He had also extended an apology as a gesture of mutual respect and appreciation.
Jokowi on Thursday afternoon chaired a closed meeting with Human Development and Culture Coordinating Minister Puan Maharani, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and Health Minister Nila Moeloek to discuss an accelerated welfare program for the Papuan people.
Next week, the President plans to invite traditional leaders, community leaders and religious leaders from Papua and West Papua to the presidential palace to discuss the accelerated welfare program for the two provinces.
During an earlier interview with Kompas, the President said he would use the welfare approach to win the hearts of Papuans (Kompas, 21/8/2019).
Meanwhile, Political, Legal and Security Affairs Coordinating Minister Wiranto, Indonesian Military commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian Thursday met with a number of community leaders, traditional leaders and religious leaders in Papua and West Papua.
During the meeting, Wiranto invited all parties on behalf of the central government to begin restoring security to Papua.
"The President has sent warm greetings [...] of brotherhood, of peace. And he hopes that the incident can soon be resolved so we can reconsolidate in the right direction of development," Wiranto said in Sorong.
Gerry Gemenop, a Papuan traditional leader who was present at the meeting, appreciated the response of the central government in addressing the problems in Papua and West Papua.
Togetherness
Meanwhile, some regional leaders outside Papua and West Papua said they would guarantee security for Papuan students and people in their areas, and improve communication to build mutual understanding.
West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji was among those who conveyed their support, following a meeting with Papuan student representatives in the province. "I and the regional leaders communication forum will always make an effort to maintain peace among all those in West Kalimantan. Papuan students studying in Pontianak may continue their studies until completion," said Sutarmidji.
Meanwhile, Malang Mayor Sutiaji is to hold a meeting with the heads of RT/RW (neighborhood/community units) and the universities in the East Java regency.
"On Aug. 26, we will hold a meeting with [these leaders] to ensure security for all. There has been no friction to date. What happened yesterday (rioting during a demonstration of the Papua Young Alliance in Malang on 15 Aug.) was a misunderstanding. The social conflict never occurred," he said.
Sutiaji wants to build understanding and disseminate information that the situation in Malang was nothing to worry about.
"We also ask universities to present their friends from Papua and other regions from outside [Malang] to develop diversity, that Malang is a shared house," he said.
Around 1,100 students from Papua are presently studying in Malang. (INA/FRN/FLO/ESA/WER/EDN)
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