Solidarity with West Papua on 1 December 2014 in Aotearoa New Zealand

Peace Movement Aotearoa

28 November 2014

Below are the details of the solidarity events in Aotearoa New Zealand to mark West Papua Independence Day, 1 December - there are four events this year: one in Christchurch, one in Wellington and two in Auckland. If you are not able to get to one of the solidarity events, but would like to add your voice to those of people all around the world who are calling for justice, peace and self-determination for the people of West Papua, you might like to send a message of solidarity to the people of West Papua - details of how you can do that are at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wpsol.htm

Links:

• Details of West Papua solidarity events in Aotearoa New Zealand on 1 December 2014 - https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/solidarity-with-west-papua-on-1-december-2014-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/773365526044152
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• RSVP for the Wellington event - https://www.facebook.com/events/741949765897555
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• RSVP for the Oceania Interrupted event in Auckland - https://www.facebook.com/OceaniaInterrupted/posts/1513450052246633
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• Messages of solidarity for the people of West Papua - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wpsol.htm
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* Christchurch *

When: 1pm on Monday, 1 December. Where: former Pallet Pavilion site (corner of Durham and Kilmore streets).

Newly formed West Papua Action Canterbury invites you to raise the Morning Star flag on Monday 1 December at 1pm at the former Pallet Pavilion site (corner of Durham and Kilmore streets). There will be brief speeches from coordinator Brian Turner and Green MP Catherine Delahunty.December 1 marks the anniversary of West Papuan independence from the Netherlands in 1961. Since Indonesia took over the country in 1963, raising the Morning Star has led to torture, imprisonment and sometimes death. The indigenous people are being pushed further to the edge on their traditional land. Rich in resources, it is being mined and the forests harvested without benefit to Papuans. Papua for Papuans, please join us.

Organised by West Papua Action Canterbury, for more information please contact email bhturner@clear.net.nz

* Wellington *

When: 1pm on Monday, 1 December. Where: at parliament

You are invited to join us on to fly the Morning Star flag in solidarity with the people of West Papua. West Papua has been occupied by the Indonesian military since it was handed over, against the will of the indigenous population, to Indonesia in 1963. For the past fifty one years, the people of West Papua have been subjected to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, cultural genocide, murder and massacre - more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed. Many live in exile because it is not safe for them to go home. Multi-national corporations in cahoots with the Indonesian authorities have exploited West Papua's natural resources to an extraordinary degree. This has caused massive social dislocation, devastation of rain forests, pollution of streams and rivers on which the local people depend for their survival, and serious human rights violations in areas where multinationals operate.

1 December is West Papua Independence Day, this year marking the fifty third anniversary of West Papuan independence from the Netherlands in 1961. In West Papua, people mark Independence Day in a variety of ways, including raising the Morning Star (the West Papuan flag) - despite the threat of arrest and murder. In previous years, the Indonesian military and police have responded with increased violent oppression around this day, arresting and killing those they perceive as pro-independence activists. West Papua Independence Day is marked by solidarity events around the world, including here in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are marking West Papua Independence Day in Wellington on Monday, 1 December, at 1pm at parliament - during the solidarity gathering there will be an opportunity to write a personal message in support of justice, peace and self-determination for West Papua.

Organised by Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact email pma@xtra.co.nz RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/741949765897555

* Auckland *

Oceania Interrupted performance
When: 5pm on Monday, 1 December. Where: on the beach, in front of the playground, Mission Bay, Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland

Oceania Interrupted invites all to come with one heart for a Free West Papua to watch our performance Changing Tides - Free West Papua. Why: because we have one heart for the people of West Papua. What: to be part of the audience that supports the raise the flag on December the 1st, in honour of the quest for West Papuan Independence. Who: all those who come with one heart for a Free West Papua. Bring: some kai / finger food to share and a raincoat as the performance will go ahead rain, hail or shine. Our limited edition Freedom Is ... T-shirt will be for sale for a special price of $25, badges will be for sale for $2.

Organised by Oceania Interrupted, for more information please contact email OceaniaInterrupted@gmail.com RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/OceaniaInterrupted/posts/1513450052246633

* Auckland *

Workshop: West Papua Media's Safe Witness Journalism training, with Nick Chesterfield
When: 6pm to 8pm on Monday, 1 December. Where: WG803, Sir Paul Reeves Building, AUT University, Mayoral Drive, Auckland City

Monday, December 1, 2014, is the 53rd anniversary of West Papua's independence. On this day in 1961 West Papuans were granted their freedom by the Dutch colonial government - they raised a new national flag and sang a new national anthem. A year later Indonesia launched a colonial invasion, and managed to annex the fledgling nation under a sham "Act of Free Choice". Since then tens of thousands of civilians - almost all of them indigenous tribal people - have been killed.

Nick Chesterfield is a human rights journalist and Safe Witness Journalism trainer who co-founded the clandestine West Papua Media network (partners to the Pacific Media Centre) in 2007. A former human rights and refugee protection field worker, environmental, human security investigator and activist with 18 years of experience across indigenous Melanesia, Chesterfield is one the few non-Papuan journalists to dedicate to breaking the media blackout of West Papua despite lack of funding. He is still currently facing Indonesian espionage and subversion charges for journalist activities in West Papua, connected to the arrest of French journalists in August 2014, and ongoing smuggling of international journalists into West Papua. In the workshop, Nick Chesterfield will be introducing West Papua Media's Safe Witness Journalism training, and the requirements and opportunities for effective journalism to occur in West Papua, and be supported by the international journalism community.

Organised by the Pacific Media Centre in partnership with West Papua Media and the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Coalition, for further information please contact email dabcede08@gmail.com or go to http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/events/west-papua-day-safe-witness-journalism-trainer-talks-action The flyer for this event is at http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/sites/default/files/WPapua%20Seminar%202014%20flyer.pdf

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