Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan women joined to Indigenous Papuan Trader Solidarity (SOLPAP) continue their struggle for not just getting the permanent market building but also demanding the government to create a regulation to protect the Papuan traders.
“About 500 hundreds of Papuan women traders from Jayapura City to Demta of Jayapura Regency would participate in a protest. We have conducted a meeting at the GMKI secretariat in Padang Bulan, Abepura on Saturday (18/2/2015), SOLPAP Secretary Robert Jitmau texted Jubi on Sunday (1/3/2015).
According to him, the demonstration would be held on Tuesday (3/3/2015). The protesters would be gathered at Pasar Sementara Mama-Mama Papua (Papuan traders’ temporary market building) located at Jl. Percetakan, Jayapura City. They are planning to go to the Papua Governor Office at Jl. Soa-Siu Dok II, Jayapura City.
“The indigenous Papuan women traders would demand a Special Regional Regulation to protect them in trading,” Jitmau said.
He further said the local government should execute the market intervention towards the shop, mall, supermarket and hypermarket for not selling the commodities traded by Papuan women.
“Only Papuan women could sell the local commodities such as betel and betel nut as well as other local commodities,” he said.
On one occasion, a Papuan woman trader, Yuliana Pigay told Jubi that she expected the Papua Provincial Government to create special regulation in order to protect the indigenous Papuan women traders.
According to her, the Papuan women traders are very appreciated if Papua Government and Papua Legislative Council want to fight for their aspiration. “We are glad if they really want to help us. We don’t want if they just took advantages on us for their position. We never like it. It’s not proper. Do not use us for bringing their own ideas,” Pigai said at that time. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
