Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan students in Yogyakarta were reportedly attacked by a group of people while Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was scheduled to meet Yogyakarta Sultan Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X on Wednesday (3/8/2016).

A Papuan student was hit in the mouth, in the presence of Enembe. Papua legislator Laurenzus Kadepa who was in Yogyakarta a couple weeks ago confirmed the incident.

Yes, it's right. Mr. Governor witnessed it. I think there would be a greater issue after this if both Yogyakarta residents and Papuans do reflect on themselves. All efforts have been done," he said.

He said the Papua Legislative Council did not only meet with Yogyakarta Police Chief but also Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as well. But until now there is no guarantee on protection and safety for Papuan students.

"The governor already met Papuan students at their dormitory Kamasan I Yogyakarta, then he met Sultan at Sultan's residence. But only the governor was allowed to meet him," he said.

According to Kadepa, in the meeting Sultan told Enembe that Yogyakarta, once the capital of the country, was not appropriate to be a place to voice aspirations for the independence of Papua though the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution. Yogyakarta is Indonesia.

"It's Sultan's statement. He thought students should do it in their dormitory only. Not outside," he said.

Separately another Papua legislator who was also part of the Papua Legislative Council team to Yogyakarta, Whilhemus Pigas, appreciated Governor Enembe's decision to come to Yogyakarta to listen the voices of Papuan students and witness their condition after the incident of 15 July at Kamasan I Student as well as to meet Sultan.

"We hope the governor's visit to Yogyakarta can ensure that during their studies in Yogyakarta, Papuans students can feel safe. With the governor's visit, hopefully it could give a signal to Yogyakarta Government and other parties including the local residents that Papua Provincial Government never closed its eyes about what was happening towards Papuan students. It's not only applied to Papuan students in Yogyakarta, but also those who are in the entire Java Island, Bali and other regions outside of Papua," said Pigai.

He also expected the meeting between Papua Governor and Sultan could clarify the statement of Sultan that said separatists are not allowed to live in Yogyakarta that the accusing was not generally addressed to all Papuan students in Yogyakarta but only to some culprits.

"I hope Sultan clarified his statement to Papua Governor. I also ask the Papuan students in Yogyakarta and other cities to more concentrate to their studies. Do not get involved with things that not expected," he said.

He also said not only about the security and safety, Papuan students also conveyed to the team of the Commission I of Papua Legislative Council that they were compounded while opening a bank account. They would be declined without the ID card.

"When they showed their ID card, they kept being declined. Why it's become complicated in Yogyakarta. I ask the governor to work with other regional governments in Java, Bali, Sulawesi or other provinces where Papuan students continue their studies to not complicate for the access of everything," he said.

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papua-governor-witnesses-papuan-students-being-raid-in-yogyakarta/