The Beauty of Papua
The Jakarta Post
Publication Date : 24-06-2011
Papuan tribesmen performing a ceremonial dance with drums during the Lake Sentani Festival close to the city of Jayapura, located in Indonesia's eastern Papua province
The five-day annual festival is a celebration of Papua's diverse ethnic culture and heritage while at the same time give hommage to Papua's largest pristine lake that is a source of food and livelihood to the population. ROMEO GACAD/AFP
With little fanfare, Jayapura Regent Hebel Melkias Suwae is expected to close the five-day Sentani Lake Festival on Thursday.
The fourth annual event seems to have only attracted foreign tourists rather than from those from our own soil.
The festival offered a precious moment to witness the beauty of our brothers and sisters in Papua as they demonstrated cultural exhibitions and shows, such as war dances performed on boats. Unfortunately, the festival passed almost unnoticed by the Indonesian media
The theme of the festival, 'Love, Peace and Harmony', may sound trite. But if we think deeper, the words perfectly reflect the dreams of all Papuans and those who live in other parts of Indonesia.
According to the calendar, on August 8-11 the Baliem Valley Festival will be held in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency in Papua. Scheduled events include an archery competition and a crafts exhibition. Another activity, the 28th Asmat Cultural Festival will take place in October in Agats, the capital of Asmat regency.
Indonesians, especially those from the western part of the country, tend to look down on their fellow citizens from the east. While they often condemn the West for its arrogance and sense of superiority over people from poorer countries, whether realising it or not, they often perpetrate a similar evil attitude toward Papuans.
Do we ever realise the small, but fundamental, examples set by the Papuans? They are perceived as good Indonesian-language speakers in terms of grammar and structure. The national language is widely used there because Papuans have hundreds of local languages, many of which are completely unrelated.
Reports from national and foreign media, including The Jakarta Post, on Papua are usually dominated by disheartening news: continuing human rights abuses, the practice of divide et impera (divide and conquer), the exploitation of natural resources, the spread of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS and massive corruption.
The festivals mirror the beauty of Papua and the beautiful minds of its people. Let us remember that our compatriots there do not demand anything except equal rights and equal treatment - by the law and by all Indonesians
Sumber : http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?sec=10&id=19595
Publication Date : 24-06-2011
Papuan tribesmen performing a ceremonial dance with drums during the Lake Sentani Festival close to the city of Jayapura, located in Indonesia's eastern Papua province
With little fanfare, Jayapura Regent Hebel Melkias Suwae is expected to close the five-day Sentani Lake Festival on Thursday.
The fourth annual event seems to have only attracted foreign tourists rather than from those from our own soil.
The festival offered a precious moment to witness the beauty of our brothers and sisters in Papua as they demonstrated cultural exhibitions and shows, such as war dances performed on boats. Unfortunately, the festival passed almost unnoticed by the Indonesian media
The theme of the festival, 'Love, Peace and Harmony', may sound trite. But if we think deeper, the words perfectly reflect the dreams of all Papuans and those who live in other parts of Indonesia.
According to the calendar, on August 8-11 the Baliem Valley Festival will be held in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency in Papua. Scheduled events include an archery competition and a crafts exhibition. Another activity, the 28th Asmat Cultural Festival will take place in October in Agats, the capital of Asmat regency.
Indonesians, especially those from the western part of the country, tend to look down on their fellow citizens from the east. While they often condemn the West for its arrogance and sense of superiority over people from poorer countries, whether realising it or not, they often perpetrate a similar evil attitude toward Papuans.
Do we ever realise the small, but fundamental, examples set by the Papuans? They are perceived as good Indonesian-language speakers in terms of grammar and structure. The national language is widely used there because Papuans have hundreds of local languages, many of which are completely unrelated.
Reports from national and foreign media, including The Jakarta Post, on Papua are usually dominated by disheartening news: continuing human rights abuses, the practice of divide et impera (divide and conquer), the exploitation of natural resources, the spread of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS and massive corruption.
The festivals mirror the beauty of Papua and the beautiful minds of its people. Let us remember that our compatriots there do not demand anything except equal rights and equal treatment - by the law and by all Indonesians
Sumber : http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?sec=10&id=19595
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