Solidarity with West Papua, Wellington, 29 Nov

Solidaritas Asing (photo Ilustr)

West Papua has been occupied by the Indonesian military since it was handed over, against the will of the indigenous population, to Indonesia in 1963. 

For the past forty-nine years, the people of West Papua have been subjected to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, cultural genocide, murder and massacre - more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed. Many live in exile because it is not safe for them to go home.

Multi-national corporations in cahoots with the Indonesian authorities have exploited West Papua's natural resources to an extraordinary degree. This has caused massive social dislocation, devastation of rain forests, pollution of streams and rivers on which the local people depend for their survival, and serious human rights violations in areas where multinationals operate.

1 December is West Papua Independence Day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Dutch colonial rule. In Papua, people mark Independence Day in a variety of ways, including raising the Morning Star (the West Papuan flag) - despite the threat of arrest and murder.

This year we are marking West Papua Independence Day in Wellington on 29 November, which is the closest sitting day of parliament to 1 December. 

During the solidarity gathering there will be an opportunity to write a personal message in support of justice, peace and self-determination for West Papua.

 Source: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/