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Papuan students in Malang ask for protection from intimidation
Tempo - July 28, 2016
"After 36 years studying in Malang, we have been living peacefully with Malang residents. Pleasant and peaceful," said the coordinator of the rally, Anton Nawipa. However, they have seen banners displayed of late by certain organizations accusing Papuan students of plotting a coup. The organization even had no hesitation in threatening to banish them.
"We have been left distressed from our dorms, to our campus," he said. He claimed that he often been accused of being involved in a student organization plotting a coup. He had also been subject to racial discrimination. Therefore, he had asked Malang administration and city council to help maintain stability in Malang.
According to him, Malang residents have been welcome to Papuan students studying in Malang. In fact, they have been mingling and interacting with local residents. "Their judgement is wrong, we will never plot a coup, we only came here to study. We are part of Malang residents," he said.
The rally was also staged to clarify and played down separatism and coup allegations. In the rally they hold posters and banners bearing the words: "Maaf kami bukan separatis" (Sorry, we are not separatists), "Menolak rasis" (Against racism), "Aksi solidaritas anti diskriminasi dan rasis," (Solidarity action against discrimination and racism).
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