Australia
West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction,
NSW 2088
Summary
of events in West Papua (14 November -7 December) 2016).
West
Papuan National Flag Day. 1st December
On the
1st December in 1961, the Morning Star was flown for the first time
officially beside the Dutch Tricolor. The Dutch were
finally about to give the West Papuan people their freedom. However
it is one of the great tragedies that at their moment of freedom it was cruelly
crushed and West Papua was basically handed over to Indonesia in 1963.
Fifty
five years later, in a global day of action the Morning Star was raised around
the world in an inspiring show of support for the people of West Papua. It is greatly
encouraging to see this huge groundswell of support around the world and in
particular in our region on the issue. This support includes Civil Society
Organisations (CSO), churches, governments and individuals who raised the flag in
great numbers on the 1st December.
PeterBoyle/Green Left Weekly.
In Sydney, supporters for West Papua marched from the Sydney Opera House to Sydney Town
Hall on the 4th December where speakers included Rex Rumakiek, one
of the spokespeople for the ULMWP. As well as the numerous speakers the rally
included traditional song and dance. Another inspiring event and congratulations to all involved.
Video footage of the Sydney march and other actions at bottom of update. Photos at
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/photos-of-west-papuan-march-rally.html On the 1st December in Sydney individuals and groups also raised the flag including at the Indonesian Consulate.
In
another encouraging and courageous move the Jakarta Post reported (29 November)
that a new civil society group, The Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua
(FRI-West Papua), consisting of non-Papuan Indonesian activists and
intellectuals, was established as a form of solidarity from non-Papuans
regarding the constant oppression suffered by Papuan activists who have fought
for independence.
"There is no
happiness for Papuans as long as they are part of Indonesia," the
alliance’s spokesperson, Surya Anta, said in a press conference held at the
Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) on Tuesday
Fight for freedom: Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua
spokesperson Surya Anta speaks to reporters at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute
(LBH) on Tuesday to declare the group’s support for Papuans to exercise the
right to self-determination. (JP/Fachrul Sidiq) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/11/29/group-supports-referendum-for-west-papua.html
In
another Jakarta Post report the group’s spokesperson Surya Anta said the need
for a referendum was a consequence of abuses carried out by the government that
have resulted in a persistent lack of welfare in the region. “It’s not possible
for West Papuans to live normally if manipulation and deceit of history still
persist, racial discrimination is deeply entrenched in every aspect of their
lives, the slow-motion genocide continues systematically and extortion of
natural wealth destroys their livelihoods and culture,” Surya told a press
conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in Central
Jakarta.
Police
apprehended several people from the group who were participating in
a peaceful rally to demand a referendum for West Papua on the 1st
December. One of
the people arrested was the coordinator of the rally, Surya Anta, a lawyer for
the rally participants, Veronica Koman, said on Thursday. Veronica said
the protesters were beaten and arrested by police officers who wore civilian
attire on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta when they were about to head to
the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, located a few meters away from the scene. "We
may report the police because we saw many procedures the police violated.
They beat and arrested [participants] without wearing police uniforms,"
Veronica said. Veronica said she was
not sure how many of the participants had been arrested, but said there were no
more than five.
Participants of a rally held to demand a referendum for West Papua gather on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday. Some of their colleagues were arrested during the event. (JP/Safrin La Batu) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/01/participants-of-west-papua-rally-arrested.html
RNZI reported (2nd December) that Police arrested over two hundred people in Jakarta yesterday for participating in a rally to mark the West Papuan nationalist day, 1st December.
Participants of a rally held to demand a referendum for West Papua gather on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday. Some of their colleagues were arrested during the event. (JP/Safrin La Batu) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/01/participants-of-west-papua-rally-arrested.html
RNZI reported (2nd December) that Police arrested over two hundred people in Jakarta yesterday for participating in a rally to mark the West Papuan nationalist day, 1st December.
A
public interest lawyer who was present, Veronica Koman, said police
subsequently released those arrested, without charge, a few hours later.
But
she said the arrests follow the pattern seen in the large demonstrations across
Papua region in May and June, where authorities violate citizens' right to
freedom of expression.
Indonesian
police turn water canons on protestors who were mostly university students from
Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on December
1, 2016. Photo: Supplied
There
were a number of gatherings in In West Papua itself. In Wamena up to 3000 people gathered
for a large prayer event at the Traditional Council headquarters (RNZI 2 Dec.) At an event in Jayapura hundreds of
people signed a petition in support of the United Liberation Movement for West
Papua with its growing representative role in the Pacific region.
Thousands
sign petition message in support of the United Liberation Movement for West
Papua movement in the Pacific and at the UN. Photo: Supplied
Jakarta is becoming increasingly concerned at the
internationalisation of the issue of West Papua which is why the security forces
have been cracking down on peacefully rallies organised by civil society
organisations in West Papua
In Sorong on the 19 November a total
of 106 activists of the West Papuan National Committee (KNPB) were arrested by
the police as they celebrated the eight anniversary of their founding of the
KNPB. The KNPB said the police took those
arrested to Sorong Police office for questioning. Later, they released 99
people and detained the other seven. The
Sorong Police ch
ief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edfrie Maith said the
seven were detained for 24 hours for questioning and then released but they had
to report daily to the police.
On the 26 November, 14 activists from the West
Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested in Manokwari for handing out
leaflets about an upcoming rally to be held on the 1st
December. AWPA letter to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/media-release-awpa-letter-to-aust.html
Call
for Vanuatu to seek seat on UN committee of 24
RNZI
2 December 2016
A
former Vanuatu Prime Minister Barak Sope wants Vanuatu to become a member of
the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation to counter Indonesia's
influence. Barak Sope said Indonesia is only on the committee to ensure the
subject of self-determination in West Papua is not discussed.
Vanuatu
is one of the strongest supporters of Papuan self-determination and Mr Sope has
been one of the strongest advocates. He said Vanuatu has a right to sit on two
UN committees and should push to have its say on what is known as the Committee
of 24. "The reason why Indonesia is there is to prevent West Papua's case.
That is all they are doing - always wanting to be in that top committee to
ensure that West Papua is not discussed in that committee," he said.
"That
is why it is important that we have countries that would support the idea of
West Papua to get independence and the proper way of doing it is to be on the
Committee of 24." While West Papua is not on the list of 24 territories
being considered for independence, six Pacific territories are on it - namely
French Polynesia, New Caledonia, American Samoa, Guam, Tokelau and Pitcairn.
MSG
committee mulls over membership guidelines
RNZI
25 November 2016
A
Melanesian Spearhead Group committee is meeting in Port Vila to consider
guidelines around membership in the regional organisation. The Sub-Committee on
Legal and Institutional Issues was tasked by MSG leaders at their Honiara
summit in July to clarify guidelines for observer, associate and full
membership in the group. This comes as the MSG's five full members - Papua New
Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks
Movement - grapple with whether to grant full membership to West Papuans.
The
United Liberation Movement for West Papua was granted observer status in the
MSG last year but its bid for full membership has been deferred pending clarity
on the guidelines. Indonesia, which has associate membership status in the MSG,
has opposed the Liberation Movement’s bid, saying its own involvement in the
group covers West Papuans. Opening the two day meeting at the MSG secretariat,
a Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs official, William Soaki, suggested the
guidelines needed to contribute to the overall objective of the group. It
echoed recent comments by Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai that since
last year MSG membership criteria had been developed which did not reflect the
group's founding principles, which were about decolonising Melanesia. Mr Soaki
said guidelines were required to provide a more streamlined and clear scope for
leaders to use in assessing expressions of interest for some form of membership
in the MSG.
The
Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Amena Yauvoli, encouraged the
committee to provide "a workable resolution going forward".
He
said the deliberation of the committee was "pivotally important for the
future of the organisation" as the issue of West Papuan membership could
make or break the organisation. Pending development of the guidelines, a leader
summit was expected in the next couple of months to make a decision on the
Liberation Movement’s application.
Opinion
pieces/reports/press releases etc.
Video
-West Papua Solidarity March (Sydney) 4th December
Video- GLOBAL FLAG RAISING FOR WEST PAPUA - AUSTRALIA
‘Rize
of Morning Star’ boosts global ‘free Papua’ movement with new video
The
Project Channel 10 West Papua
West Papua: Local Community Accuses Conglomerate of Severe
Land-Grabbing Threatening their Livelihood http://unpo.org/article/19631
How
mining and the military created an HIV epidemic in Indonesia’s Papua
Commentary: Jokowi Is
'Killing' Papua With Rice
West Papua: Local Community Accuses Conglomerate of Severe
Land-Grabbing Threatening their Livelihood
RI and the Pacific: A history of cooperation
Photos-The Morning Star on Sydney Harbour
Photos
-The West Papuan struggle through T-shirts
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