The Wire

Protestors in Jayapura today handed over a list of demands to the newly-elected governor of West Papua. The meeting followed days of protests involving a two-thousand strong crowd of students and indigenous business leaders, who were protesting against Indonesian rule and so-called “Special autonomy” of the province. Critics argue that far from empowering local indigenous west Papuans, the system of autonomy is benefiting the transmigrassi – immigrants from other parts of Indonesia. Protestors have given the local government just over a week to make good on their demands, threatening a province-wide strike if their demands are not met.