The University of Indonesia (UI) has actually issued a declaration disavowing a public conversation held by the university’s Trainee Executive Body (BEM UI) about bigotry against Papuans in the legal system, stating that the discussion did not “reflect the views and mindsets of UI as an organization”.
Hung On Saturday and titled #PapuanLivesMatter: Racism in the Legal System in Papua, the conversation largely focused on the prosecution of seven Papuan activists charged with treason for their involvement in antiracism protests in Jayapura, Papua, in August2019 Recently, district attorneys at the Balikpapan district court in East Kalimantan required 5 to 17 years’ imprisonment for the defendants.
The offenders’ legal group and human rights groups have slammed the trial and declare the seven Papuans are being persecuted for their political activism.
Former Papuan prisoner Sayang Mandabayan, Papuan human rights lawyer Gustaf Kawer, and Amnesty International Australia and Indonesian human rights attorney Veronica Koman were welcomed as speakers for the conversation.
” The nation should not hesitate to have a discussion with Papuans. Ask us, listen to us,” Sayang stated. “I am happy to be a Papuan lady who was prosecuted for safeguarding my self-respect.”
Veronica likewise urged university students to stand in uniformity with the 7 Papuan activists.
” If not, they [the authorities] will come for you,” she said. “Next time, if you hold a trainee demonstration, they might state that you’re devoting treason.”
In UI’s declaration dated June 6, university representative Amelita Lusia said BEM UI had organized the discussion “without correct preparation and factor to consider”.
She claimed the conversation featured “unsuitable speakers” and did not have a “strong enough” clinical structure to be called a proper academic discussion.
UI’s declaration drew criticism on social networks, with numerous saying that the state university– widely considered the best in the country– was bowing to political pressures and had actually failed to defend academic flexibility.
” If by ‘unsuitable speaker’ you’re referring to me, you must mention my name so that individuals will not assume that it’s directed to the Papuan speakers in the conversation,” Veronica wrote on her Twitter account on Sunday. “No one understands more about Papua than the Papuans themselves.”
Tunduk di bawah tekanan silakan, tapi jangan sakiti perasaan masyarakat Papua.
Kalau “pembicara yang tidak layak” itu maksudnya saya, sebut nama saya, supaya tidak disangka sebagai narsum 2 orang Papua lain.
Tidak ada yang lebih ahli tentang Papua selain orang Papua itu sendiri https://t.co/YJfdnyOT0x
— Veronica Koman (@VeronicaKoman) June 7, 2020
In 2015, the East Java Authorities called Veronica a suspect for presumably breaking four different laws, including the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, through her tweets about a racial abuse incident versus Papuan trainees in Surabaya, East Java, and the antiracism protests that occurred.
Veronica’s Indonesian passport has considering that been revoked and she is currently living in Australia in exile.
Numerous UI students and alumni also condemned the declaration.
” I have actually never been so embarrassed about being an UI trainee,” composed Twitter user @Jasmineusfr
I ' ve never ever been so embarassed being an UI trainee pic.twitter.com/3jIxjEd82 N
— Jasmine Umi Safira (@Jasmineusfr) June 7, 2020
” It appears like the academic requirement has been put in the same position as ‘complying with the law in Indonesia’. If it was not in line with the law, then it would be less academic,” scholastic Lailatul Fitriyah wrote on her Twitter account.
Soal surat dr univ yg mengecam kegiatan diskusi akademik itu: Baca suratnya, sepertinya standar akademik disejajarkan/malah disamakan dg ' mematuhi ketentuan hukum di Indonesia '. Jadi kalo dianggap tdk mematuhi ketentuan negara, unsur akademiknya berkurang/malah hilang …
— Laily Fitry (@MahameruLee) June 7, 2020
” In truth, there need to be only two pillars in academic requirements: fact and benefits for mankind.”
The death of George Floyd, an African-American guy who died while being apprehended in the United States, and the ensuing global outcry have triggered restored public discourse about racism against Papuans in Indonesia.
