Transcript
WENSI FATUBUN: So we try to connect with young Papuans and organise them to use cameras. We buy some cameras and introduce the technical how-to-do, (how to) use the camera, to the young papuans. And also we introduce about how to film by mobile phone, so young Papuan can film and tell their story from their own perspective.
JOHNNY BLADES: Is there much interest from young papuans in this project?
WF: Yes. Young Papuans in two cities, Merauke and Jayapura (have been the main areas of focus for Papuan Voices to date). In my view, in Merauke, young Papuans have a different view, different perspective about what's happening in West Papua, about what is their story we need to tell. In Merauke young Papuans , they're always thinking about how they can tell stories about their culture, about environment, about their economic, cultural and social rights as indigenous people. In Jayapura, it's different. In Jayapura they're always thinking about their political struggle. So for me it's really interesting, because people in Jayapura, young Papuans, they also study at the Cenderawasih University and they're also really in touch with political issues. So they really want to tell more about the political struggle of West Papuans. So when the KNPB (West Papua National Committee) activists set up peaceful protests, young Papuans who attended Papuan Voices training workshops, they want to film and document different protests by the KNPB. So, different angles.
JB: Do you have any trouble from the police or military trying to stop anyone doing these videos?
WF: Yes, some experiences with the young Papuans, when sometimes police or military members or annoying people come and try to stop their activity, and also try to intimidate. They say, no filming there because we need a permit from the authorities, Indonesian authorities.
JB: Is that the rule?
WF: No, why we need to? Because under Indonesian rule, filming people, we don't need a permit.
Wensi Fatubun of Papuan Voices, whose video story-telling can be viewed at: http://papuanvoices.net/
