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| Papuan
student advocate Laurens Ikinia ... “We are so grateful to all Kiwis
across the country for their generous support." IMAGE: Del Abcede/Asia Pacific Report |
OPEN LETTER: By David Robie
Kia ora Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi
IT IS unconscionable. A bewildering and grossly unfair crisis for 34 young Papuan students – 25 male and 9 female – the hope for the future of the West Papua region, the Melanesian half of Papua New Guinea island ruled by Indonesia.
They were part of a cohort of 93 Papuan students studying in Aotearoa New Zealand on local provincial autonomy government scholarships, preparing for their careers, and learning or improving their English along the way. They were also making Pacific friendships and contacts.
They were fast becoming a “bridge” to New Zealand. Ambassadors for their people.
- READ MORE: West Papuan students in dire straits in NZ after Indonesia cuts funding
- West Papuan students fight to keep scholarships to study in Aotearoa
- Overcoming trauma, Papuan students in NZ now face new challenge
- Papuan students form global umbrella body, reaffirm campaign for education rights
- Papuan students succeed in NZ – ‘the golden generation from Papua’
- Mahasiswa Papua di luar negeri deklarasikan IAPSO – Tabloid Jubi [Bahasa Indonesian]
- Other reports on the Papuan education controversy
- WATCH: Te Ao Māori News video
And then it all changed. Suddenly through no fault of their own, 41 of them were told out of the blue their scholarships were being cancelled and they had to return home.
Their funds were cut with no warning. Many of them had accommodation bills to pay, university fees to cover and other student survival debts.
