This article critically examines the recent changes to Indonesian banknotes, particularly the inclusion of a national hero from West Papua for the first time in history. By employing Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA) and conjunctural analysis from the cultural studies tradition, this study investigates how the representation of West Papua on banknotes functions within the visual politics of inclusion and exclusion. This symbolic practice takes place amid ongoing protests and unrest in Papua, representing a broader conjuncture in which the Indonesian state seeks to manage and contain dissent through visual and textual representation. The findings reveal that while the inclusion of a West Papuan figure in Indonesian banknotes is framed as an act of national recognition, it simultaneously operates as a discursive mechanism to reinforce state hegemony. The study also highlights how this symbolic inclusion aligns with other state-driven visual and textual strategies that prioritize national unity while marginalizing demands for material justice, especially during the Papuans protest against racism in 2019 with which the Papuans' symbol and culture were appropriated in the cultural events held by the Indonesian state. In other words, the practice of representation is seen as favouring symbolic solution over addressing material inequalities — an episteme that frames the West Papuan identity within the state’s hegemonic discourse.

Authors:
Harry Isra Muhammad, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia
Silviana Purwanti, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia

About the Presenter(s)
Harry Isra Muhammad is currently a lecturer in the department of communication, faculty of social and political science, Universitas Mulawarman, Indonesia.

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