Papua Fragments
This diptych about story of current and repeated discrimination and violence towards indigenous Papuan, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. A Caricature by Gideon Adii from Yahukimo, Papua, Indonesia, currently studying in Jakarta. He believes that justice in Papua can be defended by setting the record straight on the integration of Papua into Indonesia, called Act of Free Choice (1969).
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. Siwa Hesegem, student from Jayawijaya, on his way to the dormitory in bus. Dormitories for student from Papua in Jakarta are often watched and inspected by security apparatus and intelligence officers, especially when discussions about Papua issues.
The escalation of riots in some cities in Papua increased during August 2019 buried those issues. This is a phenomena that never happened since Papua integrated to Indonesia through most criticized pseudo-referendum organized by United Nations in the year 1969.
There was huge protests against the racial condemnation towards indigenous Papuan before the riots in several cities happened in Papua. Racism, which has been endured for decades by indigenous Papuans, has brought back demands for self-determination. Freedom symbols like Morning Star flag fluttered in several protests by indigenous Papuan demanding for justice and equality.
The Indonesian government sent security forces personnel more than eight thousands to all areas in Papua. Some Papua activists were arrested and accused as riots provocateur. Non Papuan activists were also criminalized and arrested because they shared the happening facts in Papua via social media. The government tried to solve the problems by blaming the provocateurs while actually the government tries to find scapegoat and to ignore indigenous Papuan demands.
Papua is a resource rich area although it considered as area with high poverty level. Exclamation for equality and justice by indigenous Papuans always invoke separatist sentiments.
Riots broke out at the end of September 2019 in remote areas of Papua, more migrants died than indigenous Papuans. The issue that arose later was conflict between ethnic groups, migrants versus indigenous Papuans. Mainstream media have been involved in bringing up the issue and sinking what actually triggered the protests by indigenous Papuans that affected the riots.
Massive coverage of violence in Papua was carried out by the mainstream media when victims were migrants for decades. It is different when the victim is indigenous Papuans, there is almost no media did the coverage. This tendency emphasizes systemic racism for Papuans. "We are considered to be half-animals," a statement commonly spoken by Papuans.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. The latest IDR 10,000 bill featuring Frans Kaisepo, a national hero from Biak, Papua, Indonesia. When the bill was launched in December 2016, many racist comments circulated in social media, mocking the national hero from Papua.
Yore Gwijangge smears his face with the mud as an act of grief for Papuans. A military operation in Nduga after the Trans Papua workers shooting incident in early December 2018, caused the Papuans flee to jungle. 263 civilians have died since the incident.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. The West Irian Liberation Monument by Edi Sunarso was founded in 1963, based on a sketch by Henk Nuntung. The idea came from Abraham Dimara, a military officer from Biak, Papua, who wore a broken chain costume during the independence day parade.
Bogor, Indonesia. 2019. The Papuan students performed waita, traditional dance from the mountains. This dance reflects a unity that is undivided, harmonious, straightforward and an expression of freedom. This dance always accompanied by singing and mouth-generated sounds.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. A relief sculpture of the Red-and-White-flag after the Act of the Choice (Pepera), 1969, at the West Irian Liberation Monument.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. Dozens of students from Papua holding a solidarity act for Nduga people (Papua) in Jakarta. The act condemns the military in Nduga. The Papuans have traumatic experience with presence of security apparatus.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. Tattoo an left arm of Abigail Loho, student from Yalimo, Papua. The tattoo are identical to the Bintang Kejora flag's representing the Papuan's cultures, values and beliefs, as well as a symbol of independence.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. Fire and the Papuan. Negligence of human rights issues and crimes against humanity in Papua, Indonesia, can potentially ignite of conflict between the people of Papua and the government.
Jakarta, Indonesia. 2019. The religious symbols of most Papuans introduced by the Dutch missionaries. The missionaries did not only bring religion, but also education and health services. During that time, the education quality in Papua was remembered to be at its best.
Bogor, Indonesia. 2019. Papuan students study outside Papua island tend to get along with Papuan students.
Virtual Guided Tour - Albertus Vembrianto’s Project
The Exhibition Vision 20/20: Community. Contemporary Indonesian Engaged Photography, 17.3.2020 – 4.10.2020
The Jakopič Gallery had prepared virtual guided tours. Your virtual guides through 28 affecting projects, created by 27 Indonesian photographers selected through an open call, are the exhibition’s curators (Marija Skočir, Jakopič Gallery, Slovenia, Ng Swan Ti, PannaFoto Institute, Indonesia, Saša Kralj, Living Atelier DK, Croatia) and several of the exhibiting authors.