Racism against Papuans is isolated: Indonesia’s official

Police blockade the protest in Jayapura. Photo: Whens Tebay. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

JAKARTA, Jul 5, 2020, RNZ. An Indonesian government official has characterised recent racism against West Papuans as an isolated pattern, Radio New Zealand reported.

The Papuan Lives Matter movement has been gaining momentum in Indonesia since widspread anti-racism protests last year.

The protests were sparked by racist harassment of West Papuan university students in Surabaya.

A senior official from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied claims by human rights workers that the government had ignored or even endorsed racism against Papuans.

Sade Bimantara said at least one of the perpetrators of racist abuse in the Surabaya incident has been convicted and jailed.

“These cases were isolated and in no way reflect government policy. The government put in place a very robust and strong policy of affirmative action in Papua and nationally.”

Tags: ,

Share it


Exclusive: Beyond the Covid-19 world's coverage

Shopping after the pandemic: To buy safer than now Consumers’ behavior is changing globally due to the coronavirus Would the post-Covid humanity become more disjointed? Sharp thorn of the New post-virus World

You may also interested in

Indonesia’s Jokowi seeks major party takeover to retain decade-long influence

Indonesia’s lunch project to add 2.6 per cent points to GDP by 2029

World’s biggest single-day election to assign Indonesia’s president on Feb 14