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International Forum for West Papua


International Forum for West Papua (INFO_WP)

I have to decide no return back home and seeking protection in Australia as my activist friend of 43 West Papuan who escaped by boat in 2006. Fundamentally it is motivated by my strong political commitment so I must to contribute whole energy for independence struggle for West Papua. I have big duty to defend our Melanesian culture, land and values to save future generation despite I have been faced bloody experience during many years in my political involvement within Indonesian colonial rule. The right of self-determination have to be respected and protected to ensure human dignity without any ignorance such whatever law as top leader of United Nations, Ban Ki moon in PIF meeting 2011 mentioned Independence state or non-self-governing territory or whatever the human rights is inalienable and a fundamental principle of the United Nations, we will do all to ensure that people in West Papua their human rights will be respected. It will be guaranteed when the West Papua became full member at two regional governmental bodies of MSG and PIF, current application of permanent member at MSG has been summited by West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.

As eye witness I have to find more opportunity to tell human sufferings, victims and aspirations in such freedom and democratic state of Australia due to there was no democracy in west Papua. Despite the Government of Indonesia claimed publically that they are democratic country who protects and guarantees freedom of expression and movement, however international acknowledgment highlighted people of Papua always highly cost with premises many of human death. For real outcome reported out that current security tension more higher risky with many of independence activist death, members of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and others who voiced aspirations in a peaceful manner for their rights given stigmatized negatively as terrorist and criminalist groups by Indonesian government. I strongly indicated this negative stigma of terrorist or criminalist group only justifying Indonesia to shoot death and imprison Papuan human rights and independence activists. In the other hand, I would like to express the real evidences, lack of Indonesian colonial authority to ensure good democracy, improvement of human rights and peace plan, hence my critical inquiry if Indonesia is democratic state why the government bans to excess foreign journalist, world humanitarian organisations and UN’s special rapporteur into West Papua.

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Oppression and injustice have been prolonging for Papuan people since the territory was annexed on May 1st 1963 until the present time been killed nearly a million Papuan including hugely had destroyed human lives and property. Demand of Papuan people to gain their basic rights of self-determination includes of civil and political rights cannot stopped through such ways of terrorizing, arresting, torturing, imprisonment and murdering for innocent native Melanesian under military regime of Indonesia then it is time for Indonesia government to uphold international human rights law to achieve willingness of Papuan. As long as Indonesia government using by military approach on the case of west Papua never and will not ever to solve out the long enduring problem but at least undeniably creating potential conflict, killings, and other persecution for innocent Melanesian population.

I have jointed to activist friends the 43 asylum seeker who came by boat especially the motorist or Captain Mesak Karubaba or the key man with his role as adviser of International Forum for West Papua (INFO_WP) based in Australia. Now my role is coordinating the political and human rights department affairs of INFO_WP which was appointed by President.

By Wenslaus Edowai

Coordinator of Political and Human Rights Department

ENDS

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