The Construction of Papuan Ethnic Identity on Facebook

Abstract

This thesis examines how Papuans use Facebook to articulate their ethnic identity and their political struggle in the context of Indonesian politics of uniformity. The Indonesian government views the expression of Papuan identity as subversive and treats it with significant suspicion and concern. The Indonesian government continues to marginalise Papuans, to exploit their natural resources and to use a security approach to handle the resistance. Papuans are denied freedom of expression and sovereignty and are unable to represent their cultural and political interests. Social media become the viable means for Papuans to express their distinct ethnic identity and political struggle. Therefore, it is significant to explore the way Papuans use Facebook to express their ethnic identity and to use it as part of their political movement. Facebook is selected due to its platforms that allow for multimodal, interactive communication, thus providing flexible opportunities for identity to be explored. It has also become the most common entry to Indonesian and Papuan online activism. This study analyses Papuan ethnic identity construction and Papuan political activism through posts in a grassroots Facebook group, Orang Papua, and a Facebook news site public page, Suara Papua. As this study is primarily focused on the use of visual and verbal forms of language in a specific context on a social media site, a multimodal discourse analysis is used as the research method. This study reveals that the Papuan identity on Facebook is defined as being in contrast to Indonesians ethnically, by emphasising affiliation to Melanesia and by asserting its Christianity. Papuans have transformed their Melanesian identification into political alignment with other Melanesian countries. The notion of Melanesian solidarity emphasises that being part of Indonesia is not their preferred future. Papuan nationalism becomes a key aspect of the Papuan political landscape. Papuan nationalism on Facebook is expressed through spatial, temporal and cultural symbols. These symbols are developed through everyday discursive conversation. They become a testimony of Papuan ethno-nationalism. Facebook has become the suitable option for Papuans to consolidate pan-Papuan ethnic identity expression as they have the freedom to choose how they wish to present themselves, which becomes the foundation of their political resistance.