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My name is Thois Wanma, I am from Papua.
Papuan Voices, Sorong Region.
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My name is Immanuel. I am from
Papuan Voices in Keerom.
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What is Papuan Voices?
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Papuan Voices is a community of
documentary film-makers in Papua
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Who feature the culture, social life,
environment, among other issues in Papua.
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Papuan Voices usually produces
short documentary films.
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What issues are being raised
by the community?
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Our films discuss issues like
local economy and women's rights
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among others.
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Our films feature our existing struggles
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Which can be informative to other
Papuans across the regions.
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For example, making films on Merauke
can be informative to friends in Sorong.
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Because most Papuans don't know
what's happening in the other districts.
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It can tell how people in Sorong
address environmental issues
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or, that a large-scale plantation
investment in Merauke has started.
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Watching the films, at least people
in Sorong or Manokwari would know
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Tell me about the other
initiatives of PV.
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We screen the produced films on campuses
usually in dormitories in Jayapura
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Papuan Voices communities in other
regions also have screenings & discussions
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That's what Papuan Voices does.
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How about the social conditions in Papua?
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We do talk about the conditions in Papua.
There are numerous problems.
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Such as livelihood & women's rights
This year, there are new challenges
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Through PV films, these problems are
featured and discussed among the audience
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Our films are produced to discuss,
respond, and solve these issues.
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There are bigger issues
in our society
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For one, there are large investments
on oil palm plantations coming in
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The native people in the area do not know
What a palm oil company is & what it does
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What usually are the problems
faced by the PV Community?
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The use of other languages
affects film production.
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For example, the film I made in Mayalibit
Bay featuring the native tribe of Maya.
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During filming, they spoke
in their native language.
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So we faced difficulties in shooting
and editing.
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Because I did not understand
what they were talking about.
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So, we had to find people to translate it
into Indonesian and English.
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I also traveled from the Keerom Regency
and that was a long journey.
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Shorter distances can also be longer,
and local transport is expensive.
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Why are you interested in Papuan Voices?
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I am interested in PV because of
my concerns for my fellow Papuans.
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Papua is still lagging behind, so I want to
share stories with people outside the region
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Who think that Papua is rich in gold and
other minerals. It is not like that.
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When I went to see by myself, Papuans were
still left behind, with many problems.
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That made me feel sad,
That's why I want to tell other people
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That Papua does not need anything from
the government, except love and care.
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I am interested in PV because I think
I know how to solve these problems
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problems that persisted for long; and as
a young Papuan, I want to do what I can.
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So when EngageMedia started the training
to help set up PV, it really helped me, too.
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We produce films with a purpose,
to be watched and understood by people.