This
statement was written by Free West Papua Campaign founder Benny Wenda, in late
December 2014
Dear friends, supporters, fellow Papuans and
everyone reading this message,
On behalf of the Free West Papua
Campaign and my people I would like to wish you all a very Happy and peaceful
New Year, 2015.
I would also like to thank you with all my heart
for all the outstanding support and advocacy which you have shown for a Free
West Papua this year. This year has been very successful in raising a lot of
awareness and increasing political momentum for our campaign and both I and my
people are extremely grateful for all the letters you have written, the
demonstrations you have joined, flags raised and for all the other activities
undertaken this year in support of a Free West Papua.
I feel that 2014 has been a very
important year for the campaign as we have received truly remarkable support
and solidarity from almost every corner in the world. This year I have
witnessed churches, civil organisations, governments and opposition groups from
around the world, including Melanesia and the Pacific, standing up without fear
to support freedom for the people of West Papua. We have seen the historic
launching of the Free West Papua Campaign office in Perth Australia, global
demonstrations for a Free West Papua and two of the world’s Prime Ministers
giving hope to my people by raising our struggle at the United Nations. This
year I undertook official visits all around the world to meet with dignitaries
and others; and along with my people we watched with our hearts filled with
hope as our national flag, the Morning Star was raised all around the world on
the 1st of
December to spread essential awareness and core support from so many countries
globally.
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| An historic long march in Pot Vila, Vanuatu in December 2014, calling for freedom and independence for West Papua |
History was also made in
December when West Papuan leaders, representing all the major independence
groups came together in Vanuatu to form a new international organisation, the
United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). ULMWP will work to lobby
governments, organisations and international bodies such as the Melanesian
Spearhead Group and the United Nations to push for West Papua’s recognition as
a nation with people who have the inalienable right to self-determination.
However, whilst support internationally is
increasing significantly day by day; the situation within West Papua is getting
worse all the time. We have witnessed the jailing, torture and murder of so
many West Papuans simply for expressing their desire to be free or just for
being Papuans in a country under Indonesian military occupation. 80% of my
people boycotted the Indonesian Presidential Elections this year as we know
that any president we vote for will only use our votes to legitimate the
occupation of our country. We have already seen how the new Indonesian
President, Mr Joko Widodo has no plans to bring positive change to our people
but has instead presided over the continuing genocide in West Papua. During the
new President’s reign, foreign journalists have been jailed, peaceful activists
shot and 6 West Papuans massacred, 5 of them being only schoolchildren.
It is for reasons such as these horrific cases that
my people are still desperately in need of more help and support from all over
the world to help us in our struggle for freedom. Please continue to tell your
friends, write to your elected representatives and help to campaign in any way
you can to help to raise the profile of West Papua and increase our support
base on a political and moral level.
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| Benny attends the launch of the Free West Papua Campaign office in Perth, Australia |
I am very confident that 2015 will be a year where
much more international pressure will be raised for my people’s freedom and
where many new steps and leaps will be taken for our campaign towards a Free
and independent West Papua. Once again, I would like to thank you all for all
the wonderful help you have shown and continue to show my people. Let us
continue to strive together, hope together and believe in our hearts together,
in 2015 and onwards, for the freedom of West Papua at last.
Thank you all very much, may you all have a happy
and peaceful New Year.
My regards and best wishes,
Benny Wenda
Founder of the Free West Papua
Campaign
Spokesperson for the United
Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
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