Protests related to the issue of racism held by Papuans in several cities in Indonesia also echoes in Australia. On Friday, Papuans living in Victoria held a demonstration in front of the Indonesian Consulate General's office in Melbourne by chanting 'Free Papua'.
Erwin Bleskadit from Voice of West Papua tells SBS Indonesian that this action is a form of solidarity with what was happening in Indonesia.
"We held a protest in front of the Indonesian Consulate [as] solidarity with fellow students whose dormitory was thrown with stones," he says.
"It happened on the 16 [August] before Indonesia's independence day [anniversary]... It happened in Surabaya and Malang.
"And after that, from 18 to 20 [August] to this day there are still demonstrations in cities across Papua."
that Papuan students were arrested from their dormitory in the city of Surabaya in East Java after being accused of disrespecting the Indonesian flag during a celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day.
West Papuan protest in front of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia office in Melbourne (23/08/2019). Source: Erwin Bleskadit
It's response alleged done by the police that has made the situation worse.
"We need to see what happened in Surabaya. How the say the word 'monkey'... to Papuan students in Surabaya," says Erwin Bleskadit.
"The security forces who were supposed to maintain security brought weapons into the dormitory instead and threw rocks, and called 'monkey'," he adds.
Mr Bleskadit said that this 'monkey' utterance was not the first time shouted by Indonesians at Papuans.
"It has been since a long time. Only yesterday the anger of the Papuan people overflowed," he says.
Consul of Information, Social and Cultural Affairs of the Indonesian Consul General in Melbourne, Albert Abdi says that participants of the protest are not only of Papuan but also some Australians.
He says that the activity of this nature is not the first time.
"We call it Papuan separatist group, yes, that means we call it that way because Papua itself is already a definite, it is part of the Republic of Indonesia," Mr Abdi says.
"So we call all actions related to efforts to disintegrate or separate Papua, whatever the form of activity, as the effort of disintegration."
Mr Abdi says that the Indonesian Consulate General did not interact directly with the protesters in accordance with advices from the AFP and Victorian Police.
'Sorry' is not enough
Regarding the response of the security forces to the demonstration in Surabaya, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has apologised while Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asked people to forgive each other. But Erwin Bleskadit from Voice of West Papua says that is not enough.
"We feel that the word sorry is not enough to solve this problem," said Mr Bleskadit. "Will that word be able to repay all the crimes Indonesian people have done to Papuans?"
Meanwhile, a Manokwari native of the Arfak tribe who is also the Chairperson of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) of South Manokwari, Joni Saiba tells SBS Indonesian that Papuans are already embittered by the 'monkey' utterance."
Activists staged a protest supporting West Papua's call for independence from Indonesia and for authorities to be held accountable for human rights violations against the Papuan people. Source: AAP Image/EPA/BAGUS INDAHONO
"An apology has also been offered by the President of the Republic of Indonesia. But we Papuans are already hurt, how can we are called monkey," he said.
Mr Saiba claims that the protests protracted and took place in several cities in Papua including Manokwari, Sorong, and Fakfak were purely because of the issue of racism.
"When the apology is coming from the central government or the state, the Papuans will accept it," he said.
A woman stands near her burnt stall at Thumburuni market in Fakfak, West Papua, Indonesia. The market was torched by protesters during a violent rally on 21 August. Source: AAP Image/EPA/BEAWIHARTA
"But we still oppose racism."
Root of the problem
According to the young Manokwari native Joni Saiba, Papuan students protest held in Surabaya was a 'Free Papua' demonstration, commemorating the anniversary of the 15 August agreement.
On 15 August 1962, Indonesia and the Netherlands signed the New York Agreement at the United Nations Headquarter in New York, USA which contained the surrender of West Papua to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA). West Papua was then handed over to Indonesia.
But Mr Saiba says that West Papuans want independence.
LISTEN TO
Joni Saiba, president of South Manokwari's Indonesian National Youth Council (KNPI)
SBS Indonesian
11:07
"Yes [want independence]. From the issue of integration of Papua into the Republic of Indonesia that has already been 58 years, we see that there is racial discrimination... social inequality... which is quite often," Joni Saiba says.
"This what makes Papuans as the owner of the land and the island of Papua want to determine their own destiny.
"And this desire has been there for quite a long time to this day... and [because of] the racism issue in Surabaya and Malang, the Papuans immediately ask for it [the independence]."
Joni Saiba says that the Indonesian government's attention to Papua is not the same as that are given to other regions in Indonesia.
"If we review the law on Special Autonomy in Papua No. 21 of 2001, the State gives rights to Papua, but the Papuan people consider the country only gives funds or money, while [it doesn't give] the authority of the policy and other things in the spirit of the legislation," Mr. Saiba says.
"The point is, we Papuans need to be given attention like others out there," he says."We have same law as Aceh... [but] Aceh has local party... Papua does not. Aceh has clear rules, Papua does not.
"What is the difference [between us and them]? This what has made Papuans feeling surfeited.. from1961 until now.
"That's the root of the problem."
'Every Papuan wants independence'
It was reported that Vanuatu , together with West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda, to call for support for the independence of the people of West Papua.
Joni Saiba says he welcomes the move.
"I personally, as a Papuan, see the supports from fellow Indonesians in Vanuatu, in Solomon... and also what my brother, my senior, big brother Benny Wenda does are good because this is part of the Papuans' struggle to seek support from Pacific island nations," he says.
"This is part of the rights of Papuan people, respectfully requesting support from brothers in the Pacific islands."
Whether they dare to admit it or not, Joni Saiba says that Papuans want independence.
"Every Papuan wants independence, that has to be well remembered," he says.
"It's just that we expect the state to be present to see development... the activities... it must be equal. There must be no discrimination. There must be no racial segregation. And this often happens.
"The state must provide comfort to all Papuans."
