This statement has been written by West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda following the reports that up to 84 West Papuans were arrested and tortured yesterday for supporting West Papua joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
I am making this urgent message to the
international community to please look towards the situation in West Papua.
Yesterday all over West Papua and in some Indonesia
cities, the people of West Papua peacefully demonstrated and asked the leaders
of our fellow Melanesian countries to welcome us into the Melanesian and
greater Pacific family, within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG.) We have
put our trust in the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to
represent us in the MSG.
Though my people were only demonstrating
peacefully, it has been reported that 84 West Papuans, including youths were
arrested and some were tortured by the Indonesian authorities. As
Melanesians we want to peacefully express our right to come back into the Melanesian
family by joining the MSG but we almost every time my people do this, we are
arrested and tortured.
Events such as yesterday show to the world and
especially our Melanesian leaders that the Melanesian people of West Papua do
want to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group through the ULMWP.
These events also show that this is exactly what
the Indonesian government does not want.
Why else would they allow for scores of West Papuans getting arrested and some getting tortured, just for asking to come back to the Melanesian family?
The Indonesian government has been trying hard to
lobby the leaders of the Melanesian countries and tell them not to support
Melanesian West Papuans joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group through our own
organisation (the ULMWP). They have been trying hard to tell these Melanesian
leaders to support Indonesia itself to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group so
as to “represent” West Papuans from there.
However, the truth is being revealed. Thousands of
West Papuans have come out on the streets supporting the ULMWP representing us
within our Melanesian family of the MSG. We have not seen any demonstrations by
West Papuans calling for Indonesia to represent us at the MSG because we want
to be represented by ourselves, not our colonial rulers.
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West Papuans in the city of Solo, Indonesia, supporting
West Papua coming back to the Melanesian family of the MSG
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I urge the world to look towards this real
situation my people are facing as we continue to demonstrate and ask our fellow
Melanesian leaders to please accept us back into our rightful place in the
Melanesian family, with open arms.
My people will demonstrate all over West Papua
again today on 21st May
to call once again for MSG membership. Please turn your eyes towards my people
and keep them in your hearts and prayers as they risk their lives to express
their desires to be free Melanesian people.
I am also holding a demonstration with the Free
West Papua Campaign outside the Indonesian Embassy in London on Saturday 23rd May, showing that West Papuans want to join the
Melanesian Spearhead Group and calling on the Indonesian government to stop the
oppression and illegal occupation of West Papua.
The demonstration will be held from 12:00 to 14:00
outside the Indonesian Embassy at 38, Grosvenor Square. Please join me as we
stand together and say
“Stop the oppression! Bring West Papua back to the Melanesian family! Free West Papua!”
Thank you very much
Benny Wenda
West Papua independence leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
West Papua independence leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).