After being subsided, Papua is now heating up again. This time the riots occurred in Wamena, Jaya Wijaya Regency, Papua, as a result of students and local community demonstrations to reject racism on Monday (9/23/2019).
Responding to this, Papuan Figure, Reverend Karel Phil Erari asked all elements of society to hold themselves, stay united and refrain from maintaining the unity and integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
According to Rev. Karel, the demonstration actually rejected the act of racism, but it was allegedly infiltrated by provocateurs causing chaos.
“I think there are provocateurs, therefore I ask all elements, both the People of Papua and others, not to believe hoax, especially about Papua,” said Rev. Karel in a special dialogue in Jakarta , Monday (9/23/2019), with the theme ‘Social Media Wisely, Keeping the Unity.
He said that the problem of racism had to be thoroughly investigated, so it would not happen again in the future. Therefore, Karel said that responding the problem of Papua must be comprehensive with the right approach.
Karel also claimed to disagree with the opinions about the unimportant infrastructure development in Papua.
“Development is important there, building a human being is very necessary, especially in terms of economics, education and health,” he said.
In the same place, a social media observer, Endah Nasution said that for the first case of violence in Papua, it was true because of many large spread of hoax on social media.
“The shift in the pattern of society today is so fast in the digital world. Before, if you want to have a conversation with friends while have tea or coffee together, but the speed of technology and social media change. Just imagine that one person has the Whatsapps Messenger group ranging from elementary, junior high, high school, university and even “Up to the RT level. The problem is to do it directly through the group without seeing the source and the truth first,” Endah said.
Endah added, the Government blocked the internet in Papua to avoid the spread of hoax was a right step. Because with that effort the massive spread through social media can be controlled.
“As for the riots this time, I don’t know whether it’s because of hoaxes or what causes it, but its certainly beginns a matter of racism,” he said.
