By: Abner Wanggai ) *
The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag has been a trending topic lately . Because the death of George Floyd, a black citizen, raised the issue of racism in America. In Indonesia there are also people who sympathize with this case. Unfortunately racism that occurred there was even associated with the situation in Papua, and eventually formed the hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter. Though in Papua it is clearly different from that in America and there are no cases of racism at all.
The Papuans are from the Melanesian ethnic group who are physically different from the Javanese or Sundanese. With great stature, making them talented football players, like Alex Pulalo. One striking physical characteristic is dark skin color.
The similarity of skin color with negroes makes Papuans associated with #BlackLivesMatter. A case of racism that began with the death of George Floyd. He allegedly committed money laundering and then tragically lost his life, after having his neck pressed by the knee, by a ruthless officer. Then after this case went global, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter appeared and was modified to #PapuaLivesMatter by Indonesians.
Why Papua? People who continue to voice the hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter say that there are cases of racism similar to those in America. The government is considered unfair because it annulled the Papuan people. In addition, Papuans with dark skin have the potential to be bullied by others.
One of the #PapuaLivesMatter hashtag supporters, Sayang Mandabayan, also demanded the government apologize for arresting him while he was at Manokwari Rendani Airport. Whereas the Mandabayan case was not because of racism or ethnicism, but because he was found carrying up to 1,500 Morning Star flags. This flag is a symbol of the Free Papua Organization.
In Papua there are still people who are dissatisfied and feel negated by the government. Even though President Jokowi has made several projects to advance Papua. For example the trans Papua road project that connects Sorong to Merauke, the Hamadi-Holtekam Bridge, hydroelectric power projects in West Papua, and Sentani Airport.
They also objected to the existence of a mining company. Even though this company contributed a significant amount of tax to the government, even up to trillions. The native sons of Papua are also prioritized as employees. In addition, the mining company also helped build Mimika City infrastructure, so that it will progress. Previously it was only a remote area and far from modern civilization.
We must not be provoked and instead support the hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter. Those who echo this hashtag intentionally made it viral. The goal is to get support from all Indonesian people. They were playing victims and acting as if they were being colonized by the government in Jakarta.
The makers of the hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter could be separatists, aka members of the Free Papua Organization. They did want to separate themselves from this country and not agree to the 1969 agreement, when Papua officially became part of the Indonesian state. So when there is a hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, they immediately get excited and make the hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter and make a news narrative as if they were an oppressed tribe, even though they are lying.
So when the #PapuaLivesMatter hashtag appears on social media, don’t rush to reply or retweet . Understand the history of Papua first and what happened there. Don’t also associate it with #BlackLivesMatter, because even though they are both black, the case in America is very different from Papua.
The hashtag #PapuaLivesMatter that appeared on social media became a tool for separatists to launch the action. They deliberately took advantage of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag viral moment and sought sympathy from many people. Whereas #PapuaLivesMatter’s ultimate goal is Papuan independence.
) * The writer is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta
