Flying the flag for West Papua

By Keith Locke / December 2, 2013

December 1st is a special day for West Papuans because on that day, back in 1961, the Morning Star flag was raised for the first time. The then Dutch colonists were sympathetic, because they had put West Papua on the road to independence. However the hopes for a free West Papua were dashed after Indonesia troops invaded the country.

Around the world yesterday people were raising the Morning Star flag in solidarity with the West Papuan people. In Auckland it took the form of a group of women conducting “guerrilla theatre” flag raising at three key intersections along Queen Street (see photo). I was in the support group.

December 1st is a special day for West Papuans because on that day, back in 1961, the Morning Star flag was raised for the first time. The then Dutch colonists were sympathetic, because they had put West Papua on the road to independence. However the hopes for a free West Papua were dashed after Indonesia troops invaded the country.

Today, West Papuans who raise the flag are harshly dealt with. One activist, Filep Karma is still in jail serving a 15 year sentence for leading a flag raising in Jayapura seven years ago on December 1st 2004. Amnesty International consider Filep to be a “prisoner of conscience” and have been pressing for his freedom.

When I wrote this blog reports on the December 1st flagraising ceremonies in West Papua were not yet in, but the Indonesia Police had been preparing to clamp down. On November 26 there were dozens of arrests following protests organised by the pro-independence West Papuan National Committee (KNPB).

Unfortunately, Indonesian Police are able to attack the demonstrations outside of a media spotlight, because foreign journalists are largely banned from visiting the territory. This was the subject of a big Avaaz internet petition a couple of months ago. 34,000 signatures were collected to call for freedom of the press in West Papua, allowing entry to foreign journalists, and an end to the killing of West Papuans.

West Papuan are still struggling to get much support from foreign governments, but it was pleasing to see the Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Kalosil bringing up the human rights abuses in West Papua when he addressed the UN General Assembly in October. Our government shies away from raising such issues and, sadly, supports Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua.

There’ve been some creative protests for West Papua in this part of the world, not least the guerrilla theatre by the women of West Papua Action Auckland yesterday. [email: westpapuaactionauckland@gmail.com].

In September a Freedom Flotilla, with Aboriginal elders on board, set sail from Australia to West Papua, but threats from the Indonesian navy prevented it from docking. One New Zealander, Tyrone Wood, was among the crew.

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Filed under: Action Updates, Asioceania, New Zealand, Regional Support

MPs take part in global solidarity for West Papua

The battle for West Papuan independence in Indonesia arrives at New Zealand’s Parliament today.

MPs will join Peace Movement Aotearoa to raise the ‘morning star’ flag in a show of solidarity.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty says West Papuans have faced up to 15 years in prison for flying the flag at home.

“The people of West Paua are no doubt doing this as we speak but they are risking police and military violence, torture and prison sentences, for what they call treason.”

Catherine Delahunty says the New Zealand government needs to do more to raise the issue with Indonesia.

Source: NZ Yahoo! Sport News

Filed under: Roundups, Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Regional Support

PNG arrests Papua demonstration organisers

Three people were arrested by Papua New Guinea police in Port Moresby for organising a rally yesterday to mark the 52nd anniversary of the West Papuan declaration of independence.

The anniversary was marked throughout the Indonesian region of West Papua and in neighbouring PNG’s capital a rally saw upwards of a thousand people.
The rally worked its way to Port Moresby’s City Hall where the capital’s governor, Powes Parkop had the Morning Star Flag raised, which in Indonesia is a crime.

Earlier in the day, Mr Parkop says he had to step in to stop his special guests at the event, the West Papuan activist Benny Wenda and his lawyer Jennifer Robinson, from being arrested.

PNG immigration authorities had threatened to have the pair deported if they took part in any political activity.
Mr Parkop told the rally that Indonesia’s government has put pressure on PNG’s government to clamp down on freedom of expression over the West Papua issue.

Meanwhile, three PNG citizens – Fred Mambrasar, Tony Fofoe and Patrick Kaiku – are in police custody for their efforts to organise the rally.

Posted at 22:13 on 01 December, 2013 UTC
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Filed under: Roundups, Asioceania, PNG Support, regional politics