Please join our campaign for a free and independent west papua. This year the proceeds will go to an especially worthy cause, the free west papua campaign. It was taken up by the west papuans, bas and sonny. Indonesia regards papua and west papua as integral and indivisible parts of the indonesian state. Reports say that up to 500,000 west papuans have been slaughtered since indonesia took reign. Craig is an active member of the free west papua party australia. Indonesia warns australia over west papuan asylum seekers.
He is part of a solidarity rally for the free west papua campaign, being held on the steps of the. How new zealand joined australia to betray west papua green. West papua is part of the worlds second largest island, the western half of new guinea, just 100 miles off the coast of australia and whilst many people have heard of new guinea, west papua is relatively unheard of. The free papua movement australia is a volunteer advocacy organisation whose aims is to incite action for west. Indonesia halts military cooperation with australia over. Though there was agreement between australia and the netherlands by 1957 that it would be. Indonesia anger as west papua independence raised at pacific.
Time for us, australia to change policy on west papua or risk. Free papua all about the movement to bring freedom to west. Rockin for west papua is a worldwide music collaboration where musicians are performing in cities around the world this october to help bring west papua to a global audience. There seems to be little doubt that human rights abuses have occurred over a long period.
New zealands betrayal of the people of west papua by maire leadbeater otago university press, 2018 paperback, 296 pages. Aug 23, 2018 an indication of australias commitment to supporting the dutch was an anecdote told to me by a former australian soldier from those days who told me he was part of a contingent of australian troops who were set to fly to west papua to support the dutch, until australias change of heart with the new york agreement. The agony of west papua for australian foreign policy the. We are a peaceful, public campaign, whose aim is to give the people of west papua the freedom to choose their own destiny through a fair referendum. The free west papua campaign is bringing the story of west papua to the world and campaigning for freedom and justice in west papua, to end the violence of the last 50 years.
Reported massacre in yapen indonesia is committing a secret genocide in west papua human rights. Six killed as independence protests spread across west papua. The silent genocide the exploitation and illegal occupation. Free west papua campaign australia wa west papua news. Oct 07, 20 recent commentary has compared the situation in west papua to genocide and drawn parallels to east timor. On the 57th anniversary of the first raising of west papuas morning star flag, we invite you to take part in this years global flag raising day this saturday. Australia is a member of the organisation for economic cooperation and development and the world trade organization, and has pursued several major bilateral free trade agreements, most recently the australiaunited states free trade agreement and closer economic relations with new zealand, with another free trade agreement being negotiated.
Historically, west papua was under control of two indonesian precolonial monarchies, the majapahit kingdom and the sultanate of tidore. A former dutch colony, part of the dutch east indies, west papua was granted independence from the dutch in the 1960s and had its own flag. November 22, 2019 november 22, 2019 december 1st must be a day of mourning for all who died this year. During the dutch administration of what was known as west new guinea, or west irian, there were no border problems with the state of papua new guinea, administered by australia. Sep 21, 2019 a rally for a free west papua was held in melbourne on september 14 the rally comes amid ongoing mass protests in west papua for independence. Australia made a human rights promise thats about to be tested. How new zealand joined australia to betray west papua. The agony of west papua for australian foreign policy. As a new zealander who had experienced lived in indonesia, and also always following up with west papuas issue, i see that australia as my neighbours country actually doesnt so concerned in the issue of the papua. Another report states that two helicopters supplied to indonesia by. West papua was an independent nation, but in 1962 indonesia was allowed to invade west papua and take over the country. Pty limited abn 62 127 485 198 ar 343027 at governor macquarie tower, level 18, 1 farrer place, sydney, nsw, 2000, australia is an authorised representative of nib travel services australia pty ltd abn 81 115 932 173 afsl 308461 formerly known as cerberus special risks, and is underwritten in australia by xl insurance.
Aug 11, 2019 the free west papua movement has strong support from melanesian neighbours, in particular vanuatu and the solomon islands, but regional powers, such as australia, support indonesian control of the. West papua a journey to freedom encapsulates the political activism of herman wainggai, a young west papuan independence leader and mentor of the nonviolent students movement in west papua, as he journeys from melbourne, australia, to an isolated refugee camp on the north coast of. Free west papua leader benny wenda on the blanket podcast. Prior to this, australia had also supported the west papuan bid for. It was the first time russian nuclear bombers have operated in the south pacific, prompting australia to scramble fighter jets from raaf tindal for the first time in many years. New zealand solidarity activist maire leadbeaters new book, see no evil. West papua is illegally occupied by indonesia which invaded the country to gain access to the worlds largest goldmine. Separatist groups raise the west papua morning star flag each year on 1 december, which they call papuan independence day. Since indonesia has taken over some 500,000 west papuans have been genocided. The free west papua campaign exists to alert the world to the ongoing genocide in west papua, which is under brutal indonesian military. This way, instead of being outside the government pleading with them to act, the free west papua party aim to be inside parliament, steering australian policy to free west papua. Why many indonesians are fed up with propapuan activists in. He was executed by the indonesian military for singing songs of freedom on april 26th.
Both countries were involved in the tragic betrayal of west papua. Offensive material about west papua displayed at an australian special forces base prompts indonesias defence chief to cut military cooperation, throwing future joint exercises into doubt. I and everyone at the free west papua campaign send our solidarity and thoughts to all our supporters in australia. Oct 02, 2016 the free papua movement is helping to raise awareness of human rights problems in west papua through musical events internationally and in australia. Organisasi papua merdeka opm is an umbrella term for the independence movement established during 1965 in the west papuan or west new guinea territory which is currently being administrated by indonesia as the provinces of papua and west papua, also formerly known as papua, irian jaya and west irian. Benny wenda responds to the indonesian government, west papua will never be part of indonesia. Indonesian security forces have committed gross human rights abuses against the indigenous papuans, with over 500,000 civilians killed to date. West papua national liberation army tpnpb and opm spokesperson sebby sembom has confirmed reports of the offer. For more information please explore the links on the right. Free west papua australian human rights commission. For other west papua related solidarity groups, please visit our list here.
West papua is closer to australia than sydney is to canberra but the west papuan people are suffering under a secret genocide in which over 500,000 almost 1 in 3 people have been killed. Education throughout australia of the history and current situation in west papua is an important step towards providing support and help. Time for us, australia to change policy on west papua or. West papua is a good friend of australia, and one of our closest neighbors.
Join the call for the pacific islands forum leaders to support west papua. Why nearly 2 million people are demanding an independence vote. The reason was that, at the time, the other half of the island of papua was occupied by australia as a territory. Free west papua campaign png coordinator interviewed by radio australia human rights. In december 2017, russian tu95 nuclear bombers made sorties from bases on biak island in west papua probing the air space between australia and papua. The free papua movement is helping to raise awareness of human rights problems in west papua through musical events internationally and in australia. Recent commentary has compared the situation in west papua to genocide and drawn parallels to east timor.
A rally for a free west papua was held in melbourne on september 14 the rally comes amid ongoing mass protests in west papua for independence. Free west papua campaign australia wa is lead by alpheus meage. A benefit for the free west papua campaign australia its time to get it on, at denim fest iii, featuring australia s finest turbonegro tribute, the mighty turbobelco. New zealands betrayal of the people of west papua, features a theme also relevant for australia. The road to home is a 2015 featurelength documentary about independence leader benny wenda, who is the founder of the free west papua campaign. All the more shocking is that australia is a supporter of this indonesian rule over west papua and actively helps train military units that have been accused of human rights abuses. Since his dramatic escape from an indonesian prison in 2002, where he was held in isolation and tortured as a political prisoner, benny has been an unceasing crusader on the international scene, campaigning to bring about an end to the suffering of his. Jul 25, 2019 this year marks 50 years since west papua was officially incorporated into indonesia via 1969s ironically named act of free choice, whereby less than 1 percent of papuans were forced to vote in. West papuan protesters call for selfdetermination in mass rallies. We got so happy on the day of protest and raised the west papuan morning star flag outside the following. An offer to come to australia to tell their story was on the table. Opm proposes west papua ceasefire to help contain spread. Musicians, djs, spoken word and visual artists all around the world are gathering once again to participate in the annual rockin for west papua peace concerts, 2018.
Today we remember legendary west papuan folk singer arnold ap. Free west papua campaign turns to social media for global. Nevertheless, wainggai remains hopeful that one day, as the uns member states convene for another general assembly in new york, a free and autonomous west papua will. As australia and its allies were amenable to indonesian control of west papua, the two were imprisoned upon crossing the border until after the referendum. The australien government has made an ad about west papua and its surprisingly honest and informative. Songs of peace, hope and freedom, featuring songs of solidarity with the free west papua movement from vanuatu, solomon islands, kanaky, samoa, west papua and australia. Free west papua campaign turns to social media for. Jul 24, 2018 free papua movement australia, sydney, australia. Why western society mostly australian insist that west. The australian government is complicit in indonesias repression of papuan demands for selfdetermination and has a long history of opposing. The film clip for george teleks west papua merdeka mix featuring ngairie produced by airi ingram the song is released of teleks new albums akave in australia and international wantokplanet. The album also features a song by australian musician david bridie, who is an outspoken advocate for the movement.
This political party was established to have a member elected to the australian federal parliament. The free papua movement is an umbrella term for the independence movement established. Organisasi papua merdeka opm is an umbrella term for the independence movement established during 1965 in the west papuan or west new guinea territory which is currently being administrated by indonesia as the provinces of papua and west papua, also formerly known as papua, irian jaya and west irian the movement consists of three elements. However we seem to repeatedly ignore the call for help to the many gross violations imposed on the people and their land. November 22, 2019 november 22, 2019 december 1st must be a. This year marks 50 years since west papua was officially incorporated into indonesia via 1969s ironically named act of free choice, whereby less. Why are there violent clashes in papua and west papua. Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commission free in our professional marketplace. Host a screening of a west papua documentaryfilm and help to spread the message, bring supporters together and promote the free west papua cause.
The atrocities that are still occurring on australias doorstep urgently need to be disseminated nationally and internationally so that the movement against indonesian occupation, oppression and genocide in west papua can have a chance to gather strength and momentum. Indonesia anger as west papua independence raised at. The west papuan morning star flag flies at the leichhardt town hall. Border crossing occured frequently by papuan people largely unaware of artificial boundaries, practising traditional activities. Aug 22, 2019 indonesia regards papua and west papua as integral and indivisible parts of the indonesian state. Nov 21, 2018 the australien government has made an ad about west papua and its surprisingly honest and informative. The objective of the free west papua party fwpp is to activate australia to support the freedom and independence of west papua.
Free west papua campaign the genocide of australias. It argues the free west papua movement is an illegal and illegitimate separatist movement and that. West papua is the secondleast populous province in indonesia, with a population of 760,422 according to the 2010 census by statistics indonesia. He also emphasised that the option of a ceasefire must be agreed to by the government by ending military operations in papua and withdrawing all nonorganic troops. May 19, 2010 the film clip for george teleks west papua merdeka mix featuring ngairie produced by airi ingram the song is released of teleks new albums akave in australia and international wantokplanet. West papua refugees sent to australias christmas island detention centre wikinews, january 19, 2006 40 asylum seekers missing off torres strait wikinews, january 18, 2006.