Leading West Papuan Human Rights Advocate to Speak in Christchurch

John Rumbiak, a leading West Papuan human rights advocate, will speak at a public meeting in Christchurch on Wednesday August 20. His talk is entitled "Focus on West Papua - Oppression and Resistance - What are the hopes for dialogue?".

John Rumbiak is a key figure in the West Papuan Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELS-HAM). ELS-HAM has been at the forefront of efforts to establish West Papua as a zone of peace, free from Indonesian military incursions.

In a situation which has all too many parallels with what happened in East Timor, ELS-HAM members, including John, have received death threats and been subject to violence, intimidation and harassment by the Indonesian authorities and those under their control.