Outside the airport gate, however, dozens of pro-independence Papua students staged a rally, stretching out banners read, ”Welcome, Immediately End Oppression” and ”You Started It, You (Who) Should End It, Welcome”.
Protest coordinator Viktor Yeimo told reporters Nicholas’s homecoming should end oppression against Papuans. Nicholas gave no response to the protest.
”Pak Nick Jouwe’s homecoming should not be politicized, and there should be no certain interest behind his coming back home,” Viktor said.
After engaged in a peace talk with Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie on Friday, Nicholas is scheduled to conduct talks with local Papuan leaders in the country’s most eastern province.