Efika is one of a group of 6 West Papuan students in South Australia and a larger group of students around the world in this devastating situation.
The Australia West Papua Association – SA (www.awpaadelaide.com) is an incorporated non-government organisation that gives support and advocacy for West Papuan people, both in West Papua and Australia. We heard of the predicament of these Papuan students studying in Adelaide, and discussed with them how we and other concerned people might be of help.
There is a big problem in a remote province in Indonesia called West Papua (also known as Papua Barat and formerly Irian Jaya Barat -West Irian) and the local indigenous population are very disadvantaged. There is widescale political unrest and poverty in this region and to try help the situation a group of indigenous students have been granted scholarships to study internationally.
Earlier this year, over 400 of these special scholarships were cancelled for unclear political reasons and through no fault of the individual students. Now the young students are now being forced to abandon their dreams of tertiary education and return home to West Papua. Many of these come from poor backgrounds and without the scholarships they cannot continue. A small group of these West Papuan students reached out to the Australian West Papua Association- SA for help with their situation are pictured below.
PLEASE NOTE THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT POLITICAL ACTIVISTS, RATHER INNOCENT STUDENTS TRYING TO ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATION GOALS AND IMPROVE LIVES BACK HOME FOR THEIR PEOPLE. THEY POTENTIALLY RISK THEIR SAFETY JUST SPEAKING UP ABOUT THEIR SITUATION.
What can we do? With your help, we are going to help a group of 6 West Papuan students realise their dreams and safety finish their university studies here in Australia after their scholarships were stopped. This acheivement is inspirational to the people of West Papua, sends a message that the rest of the world cares about the region of West Papua and allows the students the chance to safely finish and return with full qualifications to be community leaders in their chosen profession.
We are aiming to raise $30,000 - which is $5,000 for each student to help cover living expenses for the next year so they can safely concentrate on finishing their studies. We aim to provide $100-150 per week for food and transport per student. Generous locals (connected to AWPA-SA) have amazingly gifted the West Papuans students safe suitable accommodation and the students are committed to working part time jobs *as you can see from pictures of them currently fruit picking to try and earn their own money, but the cost of living in Australia is very high and we also want them to be able to focus on their studies after their recent stress about the loss of their scholarships.
As we raise this money, AWPA-SA will keep sharing more stories about the 6 individual students your donations are assisting. If we get more than our $30K target (YES, please - that would be great!!) we can reach out with offers of support to other West Papuan students in the same tragic situation across Australia and other parts of the world
The first individual student story we share is - West Papuan future pilot Efika Kora- please check out her video and donate as much as you can to help her stay as she is only 2 semesters away from achieving her educational and professional dream.
5 more student videos will be shared on rotation over the duration of our campaign.
2) Open letter to Minister Faafoi – an appeal to help 34 abandoned Papuan students
By David Robie -
OPEN LETTER: By David Robie of Asia Pacific Report
Kia ora Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi
It is unconscionable. A bewildering and grossly unfair crisis for 34 young Papuan students – 25 male and 9 female – the hope for the future of the West Papua region, the Melanesian half of Papua New Guinea island ruled by Indonesia.
They were part of a cohort of 93 Papuan students studying in Aotearoa New Zealand on local provincial autonomy government scholarships, preparing for their careers, and learning or improving their English along the way. They were also making Pacific friendships and contacts.
They were fast becoming a “bridge” to New Zealand. Ambassadors for their people.
- READ MORE: West Papuan students in dire straits in NZ after Indonesia cuts funding
- West Papuan students fight to keep scholarships to study in Aotearoa
- Overcoming trauma, Papuan students in NZ now face new challenge
- Papuan students form global umbrella body, reaffirm campaign for education rights
- Papuan students succeed in NZ – ‘the golden generation from Papua’
- Mahasiswa Papua di luar negeri deklarasikan IAPSO – Tabloid Jubi [Bahasa Indonesian]
- Other reports on the Papuan education controversy
- WATCH: Te Ao Māori News video
And then it all changed. Suddenly through no fault of their own, 41 of them were told out of the blue their scholarships were being cancelled and they had to return home.
Their funds were cut with no warning. Many of them had accommodation bills to pay, university fees to cover and other student survival debts.
They were abandoned by their own government, some of them being close to completing their degrees of diplomas. Appeals to both the provincial governments in Papua and the central government in Jakarta – even to President Joko Widodo — were ignored.
Yes, it is unconscionable.
New Zealand help?
Surely New Zealand can respond to this Pacific plea for help?
Asia Pacific Report first published a story about the plight of these students back on January 27. Since then many stories have been written about the students’ struggle to complete their qualifications, including Māori Television, Newsroom, Tagata Pasifika, RNZ Pacific, and Wairarapa Times-Age, and Tabloid Jubi, Cendrawasi Pos and Suara Papua in Papua.
An interview by Laurens Ikinia with Tagata Pasifika last month. Video: Sunpix
They must finish their studies here in New Zealand because returning home to a low wage economy, high unemployment, the ravages of the covid-19 pandemic, and an insurgency war for independence will ruin their education prospects.
Papuan students studying in Australia and New Zealand face tough and stressful challenges apart from the language barrier. As Yamin Kogoya, a Brisbane-based West Papuan commentator, says from first-hand experience:
“PAPUAN STUDENTS ABROAD FACE MANY DIFFICULTIES, INCLUDING CULTURE SHOCK AND ADJUSTMENTS, ALONG WITH ANXIETY DUE TO THE DEATHS OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BACK IN WEST PAPUA, WHICH TAKE A TOLL ON THEIR STUDY.
“AS WELL AS INCONSISTENCIES AND DELAYS IN JAKARTA’S HANDLING OF FUNDS, CORRUPTION, HARASSMENT, AND INTIMIDATION ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CRISIS.”
At present, out of 17 students currently studying at the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) in Palmerston North, only 10 are able to attend classes. Seven students cannot attend because of their visa status and tuition fees which have not been paid.
Five students at AUT
At Auckland University of Technology, out of five students studying there, one is doing a masters degree, four are studying for diplomas and one is not enrolled because the government has not paid tuition fees.
Out of the 41 recalled students, the visas for some of them have already expired while others are expiring this month.
Of the 34 students still in New Zealand and determined to complete their studies, the breakdown is understood to be as follows:
UCOL Palmerston North – 15
Institute of the Pacific United (IPU) New Zealand – 6
AUT University – 4
Ardmore Flying School – 2
Waikato University – 2
Canterbury University – 1
Massey University – 1
Unitec – 1
Victoria University – 1
Awatapu College – 1
The students have rallied and are working hard to try to rescue their situation as they are optimistic about completing their studies. The Green Party has taken up advocacy on their behalf.
The Papuans are communicating with the NZ International Students Association, NZ Students Union and NZ Pasifika Students.
Community groups such as the Whānau Hub in Mt Roskill, Auckland, have assisted with food and living funds. A givealittle page has been set up for relief and has raised more than $6500 so far.
But far more is needed, and an urgent extension of their student visas is a must.
‘Grateful for support’
“We’re so grateful to all Kiwis across the country for their generous support for us at our time of desperate need,” says communication coordinator Laurens Ikinia of the International Alliance of Papuan Students Associations Overseas (IAPSAO) and who is a postgraduate student at AUT.
“We’re also grateful to all the tertiary institutions and universities for understanding the plight of the West Papuan students.”
Papuan students are speaking today on the issue at a Pacific “media lunch” in a double billing along with Fiji’s opposition National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad at the Whānau Community Centre in Auckland’s Mt Roskill.
Just last Monday, many worried parents and families of students affected by this sudden change of scholarship policy gathered to meet Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in Jayapura to plead their case.
Hopefully, Indonesian Ambassador Fientje Maritje Suebu, ironically also a Papuan, will read this appeal too. The situation is an embarrassment for Indonesia at a time when the republic is trying to foster a better image with our Pacific neighbours.
Minister Faafoi, surely New Zealand can open its arms and embrace the Papuan students, offering them humanitarian assistance, first through extended visas, and second helping out with their financial plight.
Waaa waaa waaa.
Dr David Robie
Editor
Asia Pacific Report
Abdurrachman, during his inspection of a post of the 123/RW Infantry Battalion task force in Sota Sub-district, Merauke District, Papua, on Tuesday, stated that the inspection is conducted to observe the condition of troops deployed for the assignment.
"I am on purpose observing you here, so I will know about the issues and deficiencies that you are facing to help us conceive measures to address the issues," Abdurrachman remarked as quoted in his press statement.
He then reiterated his Order of the Day to 123/RW Infantry Battalion that officers of the Indonesian Army must be present among residents to address and offer solutions to issues affecting them.
The Army chief of staff then vouched to support the infantry battalion while expressing optimism that relevant government ministries and institutions would offer their support to the officers to ensure that the Army's activities for the people ran smoothly.
Related news: RI-PNG task force provides free medical services in Papuan village
"Your presence here must have a positive impact on locals by helping them because the Indonesian Army is from the people, by the people, and for the people, and that is why you are stationed here," Abdurrachman remarked.
He instructed army troops stationed for the border security mission to maintain their health and physical prowess, prioritize security and safety while conducting their mission, and continue to engage in communication with families that they left at their home base.
Chief of Staff Assistant for Territorial Affairs, XVII/Cenderawasih Military District Commander, Chairwoman of Persit Kartika Chandra Kirana Army wives organization, and other army officials accompanied Abdurrachman during his visit.
Related news: Jokowi seeks greater trade, investment cooperation with PNG
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