West Papua Independence Day 2008

West Papua Independence Day 2008 A protest at the gates of Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne

“A FREE BORN PEOPLE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO TYRANNY”

TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT (FKM) OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SOUTH MOLUCCAS, APRIL 25, 1950 (MUST BE RESTORED FROM INDONESIA OCCUPATION)
DOESN’T THE WORLD KNOW THAT RMS IS THE LAWFUL STATE
“A FREE BORN PEOPLE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT TO TYRANNY”

Kantor Pusat/Head Office, “HOMELAND” Jalan Dr. Kayadoe, No. 71, Lrg. PMI Kudamati Ambon
Address in exile: 15538 Bellflower Blvd, Apt. B, Bellflower, CA 90706
Phone: 1 909 363 5677; e-mail: alexanderhmanuputty@yahoo.com
Website 8:http://www.transitionalgovernmentofrms.com

SHALOM & WASSALAM

TO THE WORLD OF NATIONS AND TO THE WORLD OF BOARDS WHO LOVE PEACE IN ACCORD WITH WHATEVER CHARTER OF PEACE IN THE WORLD
=========================
TYPE OF GENOCIDE OF THE SOUTH MOLUCCAN HELD BY INDONESIA GOVERNMENT
FIRSTLY: On last June and first July 2008, again police of Indonesia arrested and tortured some innocent people of (South Moluccas/non self governing territory) including Doctor Michael Siwabessy, the reason is because that Doctor do a treatment towards Mr. Simon Saiya, one of the leader mechanism of Transitional Government of RMS that until know in pursuing by Indonesia police and its army.

How come apparatus of Indonesia catch and mayhem Doctor Michael S, whereas they know exactly that doctor’s duty in the world is to cure the patient whoever they are.

SECONDLY: Nowadays in the verge of Indonesia anniversary on August 17,..?, in every years nebulous (we don’t know where is the true one between August 17, 1945/just Jogyakarta and its surrounding area or August 17, 1950/Unitary state of Indonesia/NKRI/illegally/military aggression of Indonesia towards adjoining areas), they go to concentrate its celebration in Aboru village and because of that they force every family of Aboru public to receive an Indonesia flag from police of Indonesia and also they are sharing the food/something like that among the people of Aboru as to take Aboru’s people heart.

Did the United Nations know how barbaric Indonesia is, all this time towards the South Moluccan, West Papuan people and Achenese?

I am go to emphasize that Each and every one of south Moluccas people that ever been arrested during this time and the whole Aboru people is manifestation of the entirety South Moluccas people which shall never cheated by Indonesia again though you give them whatever for they know everything which has given to them just as a candies.

IT IS ADJURED AN INTERNATIONAL WORLD SIGNIFICANTLY ATTENTION, AN INTERNATIONAL BOARD SIGNIFICANTLY ATTENTION AND ESPECIALLY FROM THE UNITED NATIONS IN ORDER TO TAKE A STERN MEASURE TO STOP RIGHT AWAY THE VERY BRUTAL ACTS OF APPARATUS OF INDONESIA
WE THE SOUTH MOLUCCAN BADLY NEEDED JUSTICE!
SOURCE: HOMELAND OF RMS
OUT OF MOLUCCAS: CA, USA, AUGUST 5, 2008
TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT/FKM OF RMS
MY BEST REGARDS
DR. ALEXANDER H. MANUPUTTY
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

Put the heat on the Superfund - Divestment NOW from Freeport McMoran

Everyday ordinary West Papuans stare ecocide and genocide in the face with nothing more than their commitment to freedom. Surely we can back them up with a little commitment of our own.

Join the picket of the Superfund office on August 1 and tell the Superfund that our future and the future of the Papuan people is not in Freeport.

Where: NZ Superannuation Fund office, outside the AMP building, on the corner of Custom Street West and Albert Street, Auckland CBD.
When: Friday 1 August at 4.30pm -5.30pm
Organised by: Investment Watch Aotearoa New Zealand | investmentwatch.wordpress.com | nowarpnospamxtra.co.nz

Click on image for a larger version

Action against Superfund Investment in Freeport McMoran

After growing public and political pressure the NZ Superfund has confirmed that it will divest from corporations involved in the production of cluster munitions and is currently reviewing its investments in corporations with ties to the production and maintenance of nuclear weapons. So the campaign for ethical pension fund investment has now turned its attention to a corporation that for many is synonymous with the most ruthless, bloodthirsty form of colonialism and the most repugnant destruction of rainforest, river and ocean currently happening in the South Pacific.

They have been killed, raped and tortured. Life is hard for them. All we are asking for is the freedoms that you enjoy every day - the freedom to speak your mind, to live without fear and to choose your own government." Benny Wenda, West Papuan independence leader

For the past forty-five years, the people of West Papua have been subjected to cultural genocide and gross human rights violations including rape, torture, murder and massacre inflicted by the Indonesian armed forces. Since 1963 more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed; around 15,000 West Papuans are currently living in camps in Papua New Guinea; and others are forced to live in exile around the world because it is not safe for them to go home. The Indonesian government's transmigration programme has resulted in around one million non-Papuan transmigrants being moved into West Papua.

Multi-national corporations in cahoots with the Indonesian authorities have exploited West Papua's natural resources to an extraordinary degree. This has caused massive social dislocation, devastation of rainforests, and pollution of streams and rivers on which the local people depend for their survival. These rainforests contain up to 7% of all the world's biodiversity.

Papuan people's resistance is a last bastion of defence against the Indonesian military and the American corporation that runs the Freeport McMoran mine, the world's largest copper and gold mine. Freeport "has an unparalleled record of human rights and environmental abuse" in relation to that mine - it has created a 230 square kilometre barren wasteland of dumped mine tailings, and the destruction of the local environment is visible from space. The impact of the mine is particularly devastating for the indigenous Amungme and Kamoro people who have lost the traditional lands and aquatic resources that they rely on for survival, as well as being forcibly displaced from their homes and villages.

West Papuans living near the mine have suffered massive human rights abuses at the hands of the Indonesian Military. In the late 1970s, after a group of Papuans cut Freeport's copper pipeline the Indonesian Military launched 'Operation Annihilation'. Troops went from village to village shooting men, women and children and villages were bombarded by the airforce with cluster bombs. 3000 civilians were killed. Killings and arrests of civilians continue today. In 2006 many Papuan students were imprisoned and tortured for protesting against Freeport.

In 2005, the New York Times revealed that from 1998 through to 2004, Freeport gave Indonesian "military and police generals, colonels, majors and captains, and military units, nearly $20 million (US). Individual commanders received tens of thousands of dollars, in one case up to $150,000, according to the documents." That included payments to the Mobile Brigade which has been associated with "numerous serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and arbitrary detention".

Even after significant pressure from peace and solidarity groups in Aotearoa/New Zealand, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, a Government-run pension set up to pay for our retirement, has investments totaling $1,600,548 in Freeport McMoran. Plus an investment of $23,846,105 in the Rio Tinto Group ($9,780,671 in Rio Tinto Plc, Britain, and $14,065,434 in Rio Tinto Ltd, Australia) - Rio Tinto has a 40 per cent joint venture interest in the Freeport McMoRan mine.

Everyday ordinary West Papuans stare ecocide and genocide in the face with nothing more than their commitment to freedom. Surely we can back them up with a little commitment of our own.

Join the picket of the Superfund office on August 1 and tell the Superfund that our future and the future of the Papuan people is not in Freeport.

Where: NZ Superannuation Fund office, outside the AMP building, on the corner of Custom Street West and Albert Street, Auckland CBD.
When: Friday 1 August at 4.30pm -5.30pm
Organised by: Investment Watch Aotearoa New Zealand | investmentwatch.wordpress.com | nowarp(nospam)xtra.co.nz

More Information

- Superfund investments

Act now! NZ Superannuation Fund investments in death and destruction,

Investing in whose future? NZ Super Fund invests in cluster munitions, nuclear weapons and human rights violations

- West Papua and Freeport

West Papua: the forgotten Pacific country - Peace Movement Aotearoa primer leaflet on West Papua (PDF)

Below a Mountain of Wealth, a River of Waste - December 2005, New York Times article on the Freeport McMoran mine

IHRC letter to the Superfund about Freeport - Auckland based West Papua solidarity group asks for divestment

Summary of Freeport and Papuas history - Solidarity South Pacific resource on the long and terrible legacy of the mine

Summary of 2006 Papuan student protests - Thousands demand closure of Freeport and the Indonesian military violently represses the movement

WEST PAPUA EMERGENCY DEMO CANBERRA MARCH 25 -

MEDIA ALERT and CALL OUT - WEST PAPUA

REFERNDUM NOW! END THE REPRESSION! INDONESIA, STOP THE KILLINGS!
INDONESIAN MILITARY OUT OF WEST PAPUA!

43 West Papuan Political Refugees call for international protection in
West Papua

EMERGENCY ACTION, 12PM MARCH 25, INDONESIAN EMBASSY CANBERRA

Where: Indonesian Embassy, 8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla, Canberra
When: Tuesday March 25
Time: 12PM - 2PM.

REFERENDUM NOW! PAPUA MERDEKA!

As the world's attention is on the brutal repression in Tibet, the same story is happening in West Papua right now. For the last few weeks in many centres across West Papua, protests and resistance have been escalating against Indonesian repression of West Papuan people and
culture. Since the beginning of March, peaceful actions and rallies have been held almost daily calling on the Indonesian government to stop killings and military operations against civilians, and calling for Referendum of West Papuan people as the only peaceful solution to ongoing
human rights abuse. In an occupied Land less than 130 kilometres from Australia, West Papuan students have been bravely facing off heavily armed military and ongoing intimidation by police, intelligence and military to protest their treatment, and have raised the banned Morning Star Flag, which has resulted in brutal treatment.

Many people have been arrested for defying Indonesian genocidal rule, and currently at least 16 political leaders are in prison on Suharto era charges of Rebellion and Subversion. We hold grave fears for their safety in prison, as they are at high risk of torture and ill-treatment. Since
the peaceful assemblies on March 3, 6, and 13, thousands of family members of West Papuan political activists have been living under intimidation and terror, given the past record of repression and killings of West Papuan people. Currently, anyone who displays the Morning Star flag is arrested and interrogated, even Grandmothers making traditional carry bags. We
have also received information that two key activists are being hunted by the Indonesian military currently, and are in hiding.

The solution posed by the international community, Special Autonomy, has failed through the direct sabotage and corruption of Indonesian government and military officers. The West Papuan people gave it a chance to be implemented, it failed, the Indonesian government lied, so now West Papuans want a Referendum. The Indonesian security forces are out of control, and will not stop until they have gained total compliance. There is legitimate concern that the Indonesian military will seek to intensify its actions against all West Papuans, and will be arresting all people involved in peaceful assembly.

That is why we need to call on the Australian government, to help facilitate or conduct Round Table Peace Talks between West Papuan People and the Indonesian government in Canberra or a neutral country.

West Papuan People are calling on Australian's of good heart to stand together to help bring international attention to the repression and killings inside, and for Indonesia to allow a Referendum so West Papuans can decide for themselves on their future.

Please join us ....in an emergency solidarity action on 25 March in Canberra outside the Indonesian Embassy, and also delivering a letter to Kevin Rudd's government.


For background media documents, and reports on the current situation in
West Papua and individual cases please visit
www.manukoreri.net/west_papua_upheaval and www.freewestpapua.com

Ongoing information, please contact:
Herman : 0401 301 520
Spokesperson for 43 Asylum Seekers & Ex Political Prisoner

Dr Jacob Rumbiak
Australia, Mobile +61 (0)4313 88 976 or +61 (0)3 9510 2193
Co-ordinator, Foreign Affairs, West Papua National Authority

For Media Co-ordination (not comment) please contact Nick Chesterfield on
+61 (0) 409 268 978
--------------------

Demonstrators call for dissolution of Papuan Council

INDONESIA

Hundreds of Papuans are reported to have held protests in Jayapura,
the capital of the Indonesian province of Papua. The demonstrators
want the Papuan People's Council, the MRP, to be dissolved, saying
it's failed to protect the rights of indigenous Papuans in the
province. The MRP was set up by Jakarta three years ago; the coalition
of tribal chiefs were tasked with arbitration and speaking on behalf
of traditional customs. But many Papuans feel the Council has failed
to push their case for greater autonomy from Jakarta, or to protect
the local community from human rights abuses.

Speaker - Parlian Siagian, chairman of the Resistance Front of the Papuan Community, Jakarta

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/s2163268.htm

West Papuan independence day marked in Aotearoa

West Papuan self determination day was marked in both Auckland and Wellington this year. On the 1st of December 1961 West Papuans raised their flag the Morning Star, for the first time. Sadly their short time of self-determination was short lived. In 1962 Indonesian soldiers, led by future dictator Major General Suharto, invaded the territory and viciously repressed the indigenous people. Even since then the Indonesian Military has killed around 100,000 West Papuans and sold the land’s vast natural resources, such as copper and gold, to multinational corporations, such as mining giants Rio Tinto and Freeport McMoRan. These companies have destroyed West Papua’s environment and in co-operation with the Indonesian Military, forcibly displaced West Papuan people from their land.

Click on image for a larger version

Click on image for a larger version

Click on image for a larger version

Click on image for a larger version

West Papuans still raise the Morning Star flag every December 1st, even though doing so can result in long prison sentences. Two West Papuans, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, are currently serving 15 and 10 year prison sentences for flying the Morning Star on December 1st 2004. This year at least 20 people were arrested for raising the flag illegally in the mining town of Timika.

In Wellington last Thursday Peace Movement Aotearoa and Green MP Nandor Tanczos raised the Morning Star outside Parliament. In Auckland last Saturday the Morning Star was raised outside the NZ Defence Force HQ in Grey Lynn, to protest the NZ Army training Indonesian Army officers. A young woman, who said she had been sent by the Indonesian Embassy, took photos of the flag raisers. This wasn’t the only attention we received from the Indonesian government.

To our surprise the spokesman for the Indonesian President condemned the Indonesia Human Rights Committee (IHRC) for giving Papuans 'false hope' and 'provoking confrontation and conflict' by flying the Morning Star flag. It seemed quite strange that we were singled out when the West Papua solidarity movement in Aotearoa has a lot less prominence in the media than in other places, such as Australia. I guess it shows we must be having an impact.

Following the flag raising the Indonesia Human Rights Committee hosted a forum ‘ASEAN and Human Rights’, attended by around 40-50 people. It was our version of the 'ASEAN at Forty conference held earlier this year at the University of Auckland – a stuffy elite gathering addressed by conservative academics and the former Indonesian Foreign Minister and apologist for the Suharto dictatorship, Ali Alatas.

At our forum Maire Leadbeater gave a speech outlining the history of the conflict in West Papua and the situation there today. Dennis Maga, a trade unionist from the Philippines spoke about the death squad killings of Filipino unionists and activists being committed by the US backed Arroyo regime. He compared the situation to the ‘dirty war’ carried out by right-wing death squads in the 70s and 80s against leftists in Chile and Argentina. Naing Ko Ko, a trade unionist and former political prisoner from Burma drew on his impressive knowledge of international relations in South East Asia to speak about the origins of ASEAN and its role in the region. Green MP Keith Locke talked about how ASEAN was originally started by states that could hardly be considered democracies, such as Suharto’s Indonesia and Malaysia ruled under the Internal Security Act.. He also outlined the human rights situation in each of the ASEAN countries. Cameron Walker spoke about the recent ‘terror raids’ in Aotearoa and how the Terrorism Suppression Act criminalizes those supporting struggles for human rights and justice in both Aotearoa and around the World.

http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/74367/index.php

Related

• http://www.ihrc.revolt.org

Rainforest Warriors

tahi


This is an excellent and rare TV documentary about West Papua. A year on from its original UK screening it still has not been broadcast in any other country.

In 2006 reporter Evan Williams gained access, on a tourist visa, to West Papua - a country to which journalists and foreign observers are flatly refused entry by the Indonesian government. After three weeks dodging Indonesian officials and police to gather interviews and information, he filed this report for Channel 4's "Unreported World" series.

• We meet a group of tribal elders, some of whom have travelled for days, who congregate especially to tell the world media about widespread incidents of Indonesian killing and brutality in their native villages.

• The pretext for Evan Williams' visit to West Papua is the Wamena Festival, at which the local governor's speech proclaims Indonesia as "the ultimate in diversity". But for the locals, overrun by Indonesian oppression and largely outnumbered by subsidised Indonesian immigrants, is it diversity or occupation?

• Williams meets a man whose parents and friends were killed by the Indonesians and who has been fleeing the army, hiding out, for five years. He is led to a village in which the locals are mourning the deaths of relatives killed or missing since the March 2006 protests.

Channel 4
Original broadcast - October 20 2006

rua


toru

Repression of West Papua Activists

Eight West Papuan men and women were arrested at a Tribal Congress as
West Papuans continue to assert their cause of independence from
Indonesia and protest the invasion and colonisation of Papua by
Indonesia resulting in the sham "Act of Free Choice in 1969".

U.S Congressman Eni Faleomavega, from American Samoa, was banned by
Indonesian Authorities from visiting West Papua and attending the
Tribal Congress. In Yogyakarta the Indonesian police, military and
local government have teamed up with Islamic militias and hardline
nationalist groups to crack down on West Papuan activists. Forty-five
student leaders in Yogyakarta have fled their dormitories, left their
studies and gone into hiding following statements issued by hardline
Islamic and nationalist organisations. (Report - Jakarta IMC (id))

This repression comes after a damning report by Human Rights Watch
accusing Indonesian police of endemic abuse and violence in West Papua.

http://www.indymedia.org/or/2007/07/888901.shtml

http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/07/07/18433905.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Free_Choice

http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview;=100765

http://jakarta.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=1477

http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/node/51330

George Telek - West Papua

Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans-is a hoax

Re: [wp] West Papuans shut down Freeport mine fPcN forums

Subject: Re: [wp] West Papuans shut down Freeport mine Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 08:58:14 +0200 References: <BAY134-F39598049008DA97C736B61A06C0@phx.gbl> We are not in the business of telling lies, as many West Papuans know very well, since our work for them, of more than 15 years will testify. There is no need to be so unfriendly, we am merely reporting what has been reported, see here: http://www.paleomining.org/2007/03/28/ papuans-shut-down-freeport-mine/ If it's lies, we apologise and tell the website owner: Registrant Name:SMILE Group Registrant Organization:SMILE Group Yogyakarta Registrant Street1:Jl. Prof. Dr. Sardjito No. 24 Registrant Street2: Registrant Street3: Registrant City:Yogyakarta Registrant State/Province:Yogyakarta Registrant Postal Code:55000 Registrant Country:ID Registrant Phone:+62.274589493 Registrant Phone Ext.: Registrant FAX: Registrant FAX Ext.: Registrant Email:info@smilejogja.com Admin ID:DI_3770692 Admin Name:SMILE Group Admin Organization:SMILE Group Yogyakarta Admin Street1:Jl. Prof. Dr. Sardjito No. 24 Admin Street2: Admin Street3: Admin City:Yogyakarta Admin State/Province:Yogyakarta Admin Postal Code:55000 Admin Country:ID Admin Phone:+62.274589493 Admin Phone Ext.: Admin FAX: Admin FAX Ext.: Admin Email:info@smilejogja.com Tech ID:DI_3770692 Tech Name:SMILE Group Tech Organization:SMILE Group Yogyakarta Tech Street1:Jl. Prof. Dr. Sardjito No. 24 Tech Street2: Tech Street3: Tech City:Yogyakarta Tech State/Province:Yogyakarta Tech Postal Code:55000 Tech Country:ID Tech Phone:+62.274589493 Tech Phone Ext.: Tech FAX: Tech FAX Ext.: Tech Email:info@smilejogja.com Name Server:NS1.ISNAINI.COM Name Server:NS2.ISNAINI.COM fPcN On 29 Mar 2007, at 03:02, hendrick ajamiseba wrote: STOP SPREADING LIES! NO SUCH ACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE, YET! FREEPORT MINE IS STILL IN OPERATION. DON'T JUMP THE GUN! PERHAPS SOMETHING TO THIS TUNE (BLOCKADING THE FREEPORT MINE) MIGHT TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE...WAIT AND SEE...UNTIL THEN STOP SPREADING LIES! FROM TIMIKA, WEST PAPUA HENDRICK C. AJAMISEBA From: fPcN forums s To: Melanesia Group , West Papua List , Free West Papua Campaign Subject: [wp] West Papuans shut down Freeport mine Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:33:33 +0200 The Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans since Tuesday. Over 400 Papuans are blockading the road to the mine and the pipelines have ben sabotaged making the local river system run clean for the first time in 30 years! Fore more see: http://www.fpcn-global.org/?q=node/627 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- The Forum for 'friends of Peoples close to Nature' is a movement of groups and individuals, concerned with the survival of Tribal peoples and their culture, in particular hunter-gatherers. These were the first and are the last societies on earth to have a non-exploitative relationship with the natural word. Our task is to help them preserve their unique cultures from enforced assimilation, alien religions, the ideologies of 'progress' and 'growth' and absorption into the global economy. fPcN interCultural: http://www.fPcN-global.org/ Secure email: @hush.ai (only really secure if both use hushmail.com) enquire P/GPG keys available ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------

The Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans since Tuesday.

tapol.gn.apc.org

JAYAPURA The Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans since Tuesday.

Over 400 Papuans are blockading the road to the mine and the pipelines have been sabotaged making the local river system run clean for the first time in 30 years!

This is in response to an attack by police on Tuesday who shot at local on Freeport land trying to remove them.

One of those attacked has now died in hospital.

The locals are now declaring they will keep the mine closed until Indonesia and Freeport leave West Papua.

There are also reports of sabotage inside the mine itself by Papuan employees whilst Papuan students in Jakarta showed solidarity by invading the Freeport offices there and smashing the windows and the offices. 13 students have been arrested.

This is an amazing response by the Papuans. There is fear of reprisals by the army and police and fear of torture for those arrested. You can show solidarity with the Papuans by phoning Freeport/RTZ offices or phoning the police and army in Jakarta and/or Timika (the Freeport area). Show them the world is watching and demand that force not be used against the Papuans.
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
tapol (at) gn.apc.org tapol.gn.apc.org

freewestpapua.com

***********************************************************************************

West Papuans Close Mine, Jakarta Students Smash Mine Offices

Wednesday, March 28 2007 @ 05:06 PM PDT Contributed by: Anonymous Views: 139 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070328170635180 The Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans since Tuesday. Over 400 Papuans are blockading the road to the mine and the pipelines have been sabotaged making the local river system run clean for the first time in 30 years! West Papuans Close Mine, Jakarta Students Smash Mine Offices The Freeport mine in West Papua has been shut down by local Papuans since Tuesday. Over 400 Papuans are blockading the road to the mine and the pipelines have been sabotaged making the local river system run clean for the first time in 30 years! This is in response to an attack by police on Tuesday who shot at local on Freeport land trying to remove them. One of those attacked has now died in hospital. The locals are now declaring they will keep the mine closed until Indonesia and Freeport leave West Papua. There are also reports of sabotage inside the mine itself by Papuan employees whilst Papuan students in Jakarta showed solidarity by invading the Freeport offices there and smashing the windows and the offices. 13 students have been arrested. This is an amazing response by the Papuans. There is fear of reprisals by the army and police and fear of torture for those arrested. You can show solidarity with the Papuans by phoning Freeport/RTZ offices or phoning the police and army in Jakarta and/or Timika (the Freeport area). Show them the world is watching and demand that force not be used against the Papuans. WEST PAPUA: Dying to be free By Richard Samuelson, Co-Director of the Free West Papua Campaign Green World (Winter/Spring 2007) [Journal of the UK Green Party] IMAGINE A COUNTRY under military occupation: Palestine? A country whose occupiers deny its people the right to choose their own identity and culture: Tibet? Where the occupiers have murdered at least 10% of the population in an orgy of genocidal bloodshed: Armenia? Where the people are subjected to daily racist abuse, intimidation and violence: apartheid South Africa? Where a brutal military rules every aspect of daily life with an iron fist: Burma? Where indigenous civilisations and the species-rich rainforests they call home are being bulldozed by Western and Chinese greed for timber, gas, copper and gold: Brazil? And whose suffering the British, American and other Western governments shamefully choose to ignore to protect their own selfish interests: Chechnya? Now imagine a country where all of this is true: West Papua. Have you ever met a West Papuan? Probably not. Indonesia doesn’t want you to. Otherwise you may discover the bloody secrets of its 43 year long occupation. The generals in Jakarta who still wield the real power in Indonesia despite the façade of democracy which is the current civilian government, don’t want you to know the truth. They don’t want you to know the shameful way they annexed West Papua in the 1960’s by holding a sham referendum, cruelly named the “Act of Free Choice”, by hand-picking 1,026 Papuan “representatives” and telling them that if they voted for independence instead of rule by Indonesia they would have their tongues cut out. They don’t want you to know that their “glorious heroes”, the Indonesian military, have slaughtered at least 100,000 West Papuan women, men and children and raped and tortured countless others. And our Foreign & Commonwealth Office doesn’t want you to know that Britain not only actively colluded with Indonesia in the 1960’s to ensure that the “Act of Free Choice” was never challenged in the UN, but has supported Indonesia’s illegal occupation ever since. As one of Indonesia’s major foreign investors (BP is developing a natural gas field off the Papuan coast and Rio Tinto holds a share in the huge Freeport gold and copper mine in the Papuan Highlands), Britain knows when it is politic to keep silent. To keep their secrets safe, the Indonesian Government bans foreign journalists and human rights observers from West Papua. Very few Papuans ever make it out. That is until now. Three years ago, for the first time ever, a West Papuan independence leader, Benny Wenda, escaped from an Indonesian prison, trekked for weeks through the jungle and eventually made it across the border into Papua New Guinea. From there, he flew to Heathrow to claim asylum and carry on the struggle for freedom from Britain. His predecessor as leader had not been as fortunate. Theys Eluay was strangled to death by Indonesian Special Forces in 2001. Operating from Oxford, Benny Wenda is now telling West Papua’s story to university, political, trade union, environmental, human rights and religious groups across Britain and beyond, starting the journey of turning support for his people’s cause into the sort of real political pressure which can change even the most fossilised government policy. Remember that not even Thatcher’s determination in the 1980’s to “preserve British interests in South Africa”, could withstand the grass-roots anti-apartheid pressure for Britain to support majority rule. In 2005 Benny Wenda was invited to address the Green Party Conference. Shortly afterwards support for a genuine act of self-determination for the West Papuans became official Green Party policy. And in December 2006, Caroline Lucas MEP issued a Written Declaration on West Papua in the European Parliament and the Papuans’ Green friends in Oxford City Council voted to fly the banned West Papuan flag from the roof of Oxford Town Hall. Now imagine a free country with her people living in peace, her culture respected and Nature revered. You have glimpsed West Papua’s future -- but it cannot happen without you. For more information on the Free West Papua Campaign and to invite Benny Wenda to speak to your group about his people’s freedom struggle, visit www.freewestpapua.org or e-mail Richard Samuelson on samoxen@dsl.pipex.com