In a place like Papua where communal conflicts are common, it takes unusual courage to even express a different opinion. And, of course, the stakes are even higher for an outsider challenging Papuans in the local elections.



Defying opposition from Papuans, a Chinese-Indonesian woman is running for a top post in the Jayapura regency in the Feb. 15 poll. Yanni is not the only woman who will contest the local elections as there are two other female candidates running for the poll. But, she is the only non-Papuan to contest the local election in the region where tribal sentiment is extremely strong.



When Yanni, along with her running mate Zadrak Afasedanya, registered with the Jayapura General Elections Commission (KPUD) as a regent candidate, a group of local women protested her candidacy simply because she is not a native Papuan.



“Many have criticized my candidacy th...