MEDIA RELEASE 21/10/2014

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Territorians for a Free West Papua will stand alongside with members of the West Papuan Community and members of the International solidarity movement ‘United Struggle’ at a rally to be held at the Indonesian Consulate Darwin at 8 am on Wednesday October 21.

The rally will include a statement to be delivered to the President of Indonesia and include messages from West Papuan activist Lober Wanggai who asks the President to “leave West Papua in Peace’ whilst activist Alpheus Meage says “all the people of West Papua want is freedom’.

TFFWP will demand all current West Papuan political prisoners be released as proof of the President’s commitment to a Democratic Indonesian. TFFWP will ask that human rights in West Papua be improved immediately and that the President treat the people of West Papua like human beings in anticipation of the promised dialogue.

Last week, 49 West Papuans were arrested by Indonesian forces for protesting the imprisonment of   two French Journalists under Indonesian guard. The Australian Government recently called upon Indonesia to release the two French Journalists and their fate will be decided in court this week.

West Papua was annexed by Indonesia in 1969 and seen decades of human rights abuse by Indonesian forces which have been ignored by consecutive Indonesian Presidents and Australian Governments. Human rights violations by Indonesian forces and killings of Political activists have remained largely unreported due to Journalists being denied access to e troubled province.

President Widodo has announced he will travel to West Papua this week. 75% of West Papuans who did vote in the 2014 democratic election, voted for him.