SENTANI, SUARAPAPUA.com— Dozens of Junior and High school students of St. Anthony of Padua Sentani – Jayapura Regency, Papua, held a demonstration at the schoolyard on Monday March, 9th 2020 morning. The action responds to racist speech from two teachers, MG and HW towards the students.
Monitor by media suarapapua.com, the action starts at 08.00 am from the front yard of Polomo Sentani Orphanage, not far from the private school complex.
The students went to school, giving speeches and brought a banner saying: “We are Junior and High school students of St. Anthony of Padua Sentani ask the school to responsibility for the racist word by the teachers”.
The action led by Peter Dogopia the field coordinator. Students wore school uniforms. They aimed to oppose the hate speech and racist word from the teachers in that private school.
Their presence was greeted directly by Colossians St. Anthony of Padua the school field coordinator, Gabriel Payong, who was also the head of high school accompanied by the head of the junior school, Fransina Hikinda, and all the teachers and staffs.
“We came to action this morning to question the racist word from teacher MG which was delivered during the Scout camping and previous racist word by the teacher HW while in the classroom,” said Dogopia.
About one hour, they took turns to giving speeches and ended with reading the statements of attitudes that were subsequently handed over to the school leadership to be acted upon it.
A Colossae coordinator as a school and student dormitory say he was ready to follow up the aspirations of the students.
“I will deliver this report to the leaders of the foundation related to disputed incident and also all the aspirations and demands of students,” said Gabriel.
Meanwhile, the chief of Police Sector Sentani City, AKP Lintong Simanjuntak said the action of these students are escorted by the police to go on safely and smoothly.
“Brothers, as future leaders please convey the aspirations with persuasion not with anarchists,” he said.
The chief and its members directly escort the action in the school complex. According to the chief police, the refusal of racist speech action was well executed.
“We came to check this demonstration directly and everything is orderly. We hope there is no third party who wants to disturb the atmosphere in this action,” said Lintong.
The Trigger
Peter Dogopia when giving speeches, he emphasized that students are unlikely to take this action if there is no problem. He said the trigger was a racist speech from the teacher on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 last week.
Dogopia explained that racist speech occurred during the scout activities.
“For two days, Friday and Saturday (3/6-7/2020), we joined Scout camping. Friday went well, and it happened on Saturday, “he said to explain the chronology.
When they want to hold a ceremony, the teacher of the initials MG, according to Dogopia explanation, told racist word to the students who rejected her orders about leading the ceremony.
“At that point, we want to hold a ceremony. The weather was very hot, our body stinging. Because of the stinging weather, the teacher commanded his students to lead the ceremony. But the student refused because he felt no right to do it. The student said the ceremony must be led by the Scoutmaster. After hearing that refusal, the teacher deliberately or not deliberately spoke the dirty word. She say ‘monkey’. We do not accept this speech. We are very upset” said Dogopia.
Not only that, but Dogopia also mention the same incident as experienced by other students some time ago, which said by another teacher in the same school.
“Previously there was also a teacher HW while in the class said the same thing, so we now do protest action,” he added.
Mauris Uropmabin, the first generation alumnus of St. Anthony of Padua, regrets a racist speech that was told by the teacher to the student.
Uropmabin hoped the same incident will not be repeated.
“Remember, the land of Papua ‘shaking’ just because of the word ‘Monkey’. The Wamena city turns to chaos and caused victims because the student acted when the teacher said ‘monkey’. Please keep your mouth!. The racist words were very sensitive in this country, must be careful in speaking” he reminded.
The protests of dozens of high school and junior school students ended around 11.00 am. They dismiss the schoolyard orderly. (Margi-SP)
