The Other Face of Papua
FOR most Indonesians, Papua represents conflict and backwardness. To most of the country's non-Papuan residents, the region's various concerns may seem irrelevant.
FOR most Indonesians, Papua represents conflict and backwardness. To most of the country's non-Papuan residents, the region's various concerns may seem irrelevant. Papua is apparently too far away; even Singapore is geographically closer to most of Indonesia.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) invited Tempo to join a special mission: mapping out the basic issues in Papua while observing the other side of the coin in the conflict-plagued easternmost region of Indonesia. In October and November, eight Tempo photographers toured Papua and West Papua's 10 regencies. The photographs here are the result of a trip of discovery. They will hopefully help draw Papua closer to our hearts.
Text: Wahyu Dhyatmika