WEST Papua campaigners protested outside Oxford’s Examination Schools in High Street yesterday.
They were protesting against a decision to invite the Indonesian vice-president to an event organised by the Blavatnik School of Government.
Dr Boediono was visiting Oxford for a special lecture called Transforming Indonesia: The Challenges of Good Governance and Economic Development.
The Free West Papua Campaign, which is based in Cowley Road, is calling for the region to become independent from Indonesia.
The Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, Professor Ngaire Woods, said: “Dr Boediono’s visit was an opportunity to stimulate intellectual discussion on the challenges of good governance and economic development in Indonesia.
“We are, of course, aware of the strongly held views of the Free West Papua campaign.
“Since many students and faculty have informed views about Indonesia’s economic and political progress, I have every confidence in their ability to question and challenge.”
Serago Tabuni, 28, who lives in Cowley, said: “We were protesting because the vice-president of Indonesia came to give a talk and we wanted to remind him that there is no democracy in West Papua.
“We were giving out leaflets about who we were and there was a lot of interest from the public.”
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