Original Nations Passport Ceremony-JUNE 1 2013

‘We were one people, we still are one people we must up hold our cultural connection, the old land is calling us.’ Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna Aboriginal Elder

In preparation for the freedom flotilla to West Papua, First Nation people are inviting everyone for this historic event of the Original Nations Passport Ceremony.

The Original Nation Passports will be issued by Robert Thorpe and Uncle Larry Walsh, (Kulan Nation) West Papua visa stamps issued by Jacob Rumbiak – Foreign Affairs Minister of the Federated Republic of West Papua (FRWP).

Genocide is being committed. Sovereignty has never been ceded.

The time has come for the original people of Sahul Land ¹ to come together as a combined force to demand the Australian and Indonesian government to acknowledge indigenous sovereignty and take practical steps towards the peace process.

The Freedom Flotilla to West Papua has initiated this creative movement to bring the international attention to the undeclared war on indigenous people of Australia and West Papua.

In 1962, Indonesia invaded the western half of Papua, since that time over 500,000 West Papuans have died as the result of violence and poverty under the military occupation.

“We challenge the jurisdiction of foreign law on indigenous land, these laws are allowing genocide to be facilitated. For as long as these human rights abuses occur, the Australian and Indonesian government are complicit in genocide.” Robert Thorpe

This is an invitation to the people of Australia, Indonesia and the world to take a stand against the government, military and multinational corporations that are engaging in these crimes against humanity. Take part in this movement, acknowledge the traditional owners and respect their right to self-determination.

“This mission will reunite our Indigenous family link which was broken by geological evolution and colonial boundaries.  This was one land, we still are one people, one soul.” Jacob Rumbiak

The official Original Nations passport ceremony will be happening on the steps of Trades Hall in Melbourne on 10am Saturday the 1st of June 2013 54 Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3053

For more information go to http://freedomflotillawestpapua.org

Ronny Kareni 0401222177/ Izzy Brown 0410535896/ Nicky Stott 042430792

1. n. The continent that contains the islands of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Tasmania especially during the ice ages of the Pleistocene when these were connected by solid land.