On my recent trip to West Papua I had the honor to meet Yosepha Alomang, a long time human rights activist Mama Yosepha who organises resistance to the world’s largest gold mining operation. Despite inhumane confinement and torture, she continues to promote traditional cultures, collective action and the well-being of indigenous peoples.
For over 20 years, Mama Yosepha has organized her community to resist Freeport’s destruction and the government’s complacency.She gained international recognition as winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2001.
Luckily for me our paths crossed and I was able to record these interviews with her in Jayapura. This is the first part of a 2 part series. This episode talks about life under military occupation in Timika.