1) Human rights
lawyer and staunch Free West Papua Advocate Powes Parkop is determined that
West Papua will gain Independence in his life time.
2) West Papuan leaders face
'possible torture' by Indonesia, say activists
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1) Human rights lawyer and staunch Free West Papua Advocate Powes Parkop is determined that West Papua will
gain Independence in his life time.
He was a West Papua activist when he was studying law at UPNG. Now, returning as the Governor of the Nation’s capital, that fight has grown even stronger.
It was only fitting that he officially launched the “Sorong to Samarai Petition Campaign.”
He said for 50 years West Papuans have been suppressed on their own land. Now it’s time for Papua new Guineans to mobilise and speak on behalf of our Melanesian family across the border.
He revealed pertinent facts, including the fact that West Papua was never part of Indonesia during pre-colonial times.
He said Papua New Guinea is a regional power and it needs to stand up and take responsibility. The window of opportunity lies with the sub regional body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
He said he’s doing his part on the political front, and is hopeful that the West Papua agenda will be included in the Bali communiqué come October.
He added that unlike other Prime Minister’s, Peter O’Neill is more receptive.
“Past Prime Minister’s and past government didn’t want to see, didn’t want to say anything, and didn’t want to hear anything about West Papua. They were, HANDSOFF,” he said.
Present during the launch was fellow advocate, John Tekwie. He was blunt, blaming the Americans for the problem.
The petition is being circulated, through the month of September. The signed petitions will be presented to government officials of PNG and MSG, and other notable members of the diplomatic community.
A special MSG meeting will convene in October, which ironically is the same month the Bali APEC meeting falls on.
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/indonesia-west-papua-flotilla-torture
2) West Papuan leaders face 'possible torture' by Indonesia, say activists
Fears leaders' boat may be intercepted following their meeting with Australian and West Papuan human rights activists
West Papuan political leaders who met a boatload of Australian and West Papuan activists across the Indonesian sea border could face interrogation or torture at the hands of Indonesian authorities, a spokesperson claims.
The activists – calling themselves and their boats the West Papuan Freedom Flotilla – had planned to sail from Australia into the Indonesian port of Merauke to raise awareness about human rights abuses in West Papua, but changed their plans after the Indonesian navy said it would not rule out using lethal force against them in response.
Instead, a group of West Papuans met the flotilla of activists at sea earlier this week, apparently off the coast of Papua New Guinea, not far from the Indonesian border.
Freedom flotilla spokesperson and participant Ronny Kareni, himself a West Papuan refugee, said he was concerned about the group of West Papuans, which included at least two West Papuan political leaders.
"If they got intercepted [on their return] then most likely they'll be taken for interrogation and possible torture," he said.
Kareni said he had received information from Merauke "that there are still helicopters in use, and some navy boats" patrolling the Indonesian coast.
"They have been stopping all the locals who have been travelling in and out on the traditional path, checking everyone every day," he said.
The meeting of boats was the culmination of a 5,000km journey from Lake Eyre in South Australia to "reconnect the indigenous peoples of Australia and West Papua".
According to organisers, Indigenous elder Kevin Buzzacott handed over "the sacred water from the mound springs of Lake Eyre, along with ashes from the Aboriginal tent embassies around the country, to senior West Papuan leaders".
But the protest is not over yet. A number of flotilla participants are still at sea, according to Kareni, who has since returned to his home in Melbourne. He says he is trying to contact Indonesian authorities to request permission for the group to land at Merauke.
Flotilla participant Izzy Brown told Guardian Australia on Thursday night, via satellite phone from the flotilla's flagship the Pog, that she was 24 nautical miles from Indonesian territory.
Merauke locals are still planning to welcome the flotilla to land with a ceremony. Organiser John Wog told Guardian Australia this week: "We have formed a traditional welcoming committee for the arrival of the freedom flotilla and have written to the local government [and military commanders] … informing them that at the time the boats arrive we from the traditional community will meet them with traditional dances and wreaths of flowers.
"This isn't a political matter but rather a visit from the traditional Aboriginal community … of Australia. They want to ask the Indonesian government to straighten up the real history between the [people] of Australia and Papua.
"The plan has been that we would carry out the welcome at the Merauke harbour, but the Indonesian military has already closed the harbour off. There's really a lot of military units there on guard," he said.
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