<![CDATA[Explained: what has led to the violent riots in Indonesia's Papua?]>
Indonesia's resource-rich Papua region, home to the world's largest gold mine, saw violent riots break out in several cities on August 19, following allegations of racist abuse and mistreatment of Papuan students on Java island.
The local government building of Manokwari, the provincial capital of West Papua province, was torched and reduced to ashes. In neighbouring Sorong city, home to about 220,000 people, more than 250 inmates escaped when a prison was set ablaze.
Large crowds also took to the streets of Jayapura, the capital of Papua province.
A local government building was torched in Manokwari, West Papua. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=A local government building was torched in Manokwari, West Papua. Photo: EPA-EFE
On Tuesday, the situation was calmer in some areas, but 200 more police officers had been sent to Sorong amid continued tension. Internet speeds were also lowered to "prevent hoaxes from spreading" in the region.
Papua is the western half of New Guinea island, and includes the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.
The former Dutch colony declared its independence in the early 1960s, but it was incorporated into Indonesia following a widely criticised UN-backed referendum.
The region is of economic significance to Indonesia. Papua's largest gold mine, Grasberg Mine, is jointly owned by US firm Freeport McMoran and the Indonesian government. The region is also home to the large Tangguh natural gas field in West Papua.
A separatist movement has simmered since Indonesia's annexation of Papua, where there are frequent complaints of rights abuses by Indonesian security forces.
President Joko Widodo has sought to ease tensions in the restive region with steps such as building the Trans Papua highway to spur economic activity and boost welfare.
People display banners that read 'Stop intimidation and racism towards indigenous Papuans' in Manokwari, Papua province. Photo: AP alt=People display banners that read 'Stop intimidation and racism towards indigenous Papuans' in Manokwari, Papua province. Photo: AP
What triggered the riots and what's fuelling unhappiness in Papua?
The latest riots were triggered by the alleged mistreatment and racist verbal abuse of Papuan students in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, over an Indonesian flag that was found to have been damaged.
Local media reported that angry mobs and police in riot gear descended on the dormitory of the students, who said they had no knowledge of the vandalised flag.
"The mobs shouted: 'Monkey! Pig! Dog! Don't you come out. We are waiting for you here'," said Michael Himan, lawyer for the Alliance of Papua University Students.
Police shot tear gas into the building and arrested 43 students, The Jakarta Post reported.
"The security apparatus [and] public order officers closed the roads leading to the dormitory and arrested the students like they were terrorists," said Himan.
The students were later released after questioning.
News of the raid, detention and racist taunts angered West Papua residents, who took to the streets on Monday.
"Most of them were provoked by content circulating in social media about the racial abuse of Papuan students in Surabaya," national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said on Monday.
Protesters face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua province. Photo: AFP alt=Protesters face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua province. Photo: AFP
What is the separatist movement about?
There have been three main political movements seeking independence for West Papua " the Federal Republic of West Papua, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation and the National Parliament of West Papua.
Since 2014, the groups have united to form a single umbrella organisation called the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
According to Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW) Indonesia, Papuans have long faced discrimination in Indonesia " a factor which has driven some young people to join rebel causes.
"Papuans are mostly seen (by non-Papuans) to be inferior, stinky, ignorant; often called 'monyet' (monkey), or 'kera' (ape), because of their dark skin and curly hair," said Harsono, who has been covering Papua for three decades.
Racism against Papuans appear to have escalated since the formation of ULMWP, according to Harsono.
"The failures of the Indonesian government to address the problems will only enhance the resistance of Papuans to be Indonesians," he said.
People burn tyres during a protest in Manokwari, West Papua. Photo: Antara Foto via Reuters alt=People burn tyres during a protest in Manokwari, West Papua. Photo: Antara Foto via Reuters
Will ongoing strife in Papua affect Widodo's goals for Indonesia?
Widodo has paid careful attention to Papua province, visiting the region two to three times a year " more times than any other previous president.
He has implemented several infrastructure projects to boost the region's economy, including the 4,330km Trans Papua road project, designed to improve connectivity for many isolated Papuan communities.
While the projects have benefited the region, Papuans view these approaches as benefiting Indonesians rather than the indigenous population, Harsono said.
Changes to the region's demographics over the past few decades, resulting in dislocation and displacement of the local population, also undermined the government's efforts to improve outcomes for Papuans, according to Harsono.
"Between 1971 and 2000, Indonesian settlers grew 10.8 per cent and indigenous Papuan grew 1.8 per cent," said Harsono. "The region saw environmental degradation with mining operations and palm oil plantations. Deforestation became faster in post-Suharto Indonesia."
Banking facilities and land rights were perceived by Papuans as consistently benefitting Indonesian settlers, he said, further marginalising ethnic Papuans.
Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has invested heavily in the Papua region. Photo: Antara Foto via Reuters alt=Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has invested heavily in the Papua region. Photo: Antara Foto via Reuters
Can the Papua problem be solved?
According to lawyer Himan, Papuans frequently face racist abuse in Indonesia, no matter where they live.
From Java to Bali, Papuans hear the word "monkey" hurled at them in malls, on public transport, "everywhere we go", said Himan.
"The word 'monkey' is ... a racist word full of political connotations, [which] shows Indonesia's true character as a coloniser," he said. "Papuans are human beings who have a limit to their patience and we need to be firm in dealing with racism to uphold our human dignity."
Harsono, from HRW Indonesia, said Widodo's efforts to bring prosperity to the region risked being "overwhelmed" by deep-rooted racism against Papuans, Harsono said.
"President Jokowi and other Indonesian leaders should educate the public that it's not nice to refer to dark-skinned people as 'monkey' or 'ape'," he said.
"Papuans are Indonesian citizens. They should be treated as equal to the Javanese."
Additional reporting by Reuters, Agence France-Presse
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
