“I want to be free like you, with my people,” says West Papuan Independence Leader, Benny Wenda. Dressed in his trademark tribal headdress, Wenda addressed journalists at a press conference held in Port Mort Moresby. He is in PNG to set up the PNG Chapter of the global Free West Papua Movement.
West Papuans battling for independence have new hope after recent events propelled their deadly but usually hidden struggle into the global spotlight.
Risky activist ventures undertaken by pro-independence organisations have made headlines in Australia and Indonesia in the past months, especially three young West Papuans who jumped the fence of Australia's Bali consulate as world leaders including Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrived for an APEC meeting.
Vanuatu has called on the United Nations to appoint a Special Representative to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia and their political status, with its Prime minister declaring that the West Papuans have been consistently denied any sort of recognition by the world body.
Survey shows extent of sexual violence in region where 70% of men report facing no legal consequences
Source: Kate Hodal in The Guardian UK
Nearly a quarter of men in the Asia-Pacific region have admitted to committing rape at least once in their life, according to a new survey, with more than half of those respondents claiming they raped for the first time while in their teens.
The MELANESIANS UNITED FRONT (MUF) is a group comprised of concerned Papua New Guineans, West Papuans and other fellow Melanesians. They have initiated the “Sorong to Samarai” campaign with the aim of reinforcing the legitimate calls by ALL Melanesians for West Papua to sit at the table of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) with its other Melanesian brothers and sisters. MUF believes that Papua New Guineans must support the unconditional inclusion of West Papua within the MSG.
“I want to be free like you, with my people,” says West Papuan Independence Leader, Benny Wenda. Dressed in his trademark tribal headdress, Wenda addressed journalists at a press conference held in Port Mort Moresby. He is in PNG to set up the PNG Chapter of the global Free West Papua Movement.
