12 May 2014

Worries over marginalisation of Papuans

2:14 pm on 12 May 2014

The chairman of Papua Customary Council says he is concerned Papuans will become politically disillusioned as they become the minority culture in their own province.

Wilem Bonay says he is throwing his support behind the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, as he represents ethnic Papuans, who have become more marginalised after recent elections.

In 1961, people of Papuan ethnicity made up 96 percent of the population of the former Dutch New Guinea but they are now roughly 50 percent, the other half being composed of non-Papuan migrants from other parts of Indonesia.

Wilem Boney says the role of the Papua People's Parliament is important as it comprises representatives from seven customary areas in Papua, whose task is to protect the existence of Papuans.

He told Tabloid Jubi that it was also Mr Enembe's role to protect the people of Papua.