Rofiqi Hasan, Denpasar — Scores of West Papuan
students from the United West Papua Popular Struggle
Front (Pepera) demonstrated today on the Udayana
University campus in the Balinese provincial capital
of Denpasar. They were protesting against special
autonomy for West Papua and calling for a referendum
to be held.

During the action, they wore traditional Papuan
clothing, carried miniature bows and arrows, sang
Papuan songs and danced. A number of posters adorned
with photographs of human rights violations were
also on display. The posters carried messages such
as “Close Freeport, Now”, “Papua for Papuans” and
“Release Selbius Boti and friends”.

In his speech, action coordinator Wens Papua said
that the Papuan people have become the victims of
capitalist exploitation. “We are asking for this to
stop. Special autonomy is making us suffer more and
more. Oppose special autonomy, hold a referendum”,
he said.