JUBI, 14 February 2011'The President of West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembue has called on the international community which
has raised the issue of basic human rights to give evidence of its recognition of the political rights of the West
Papuan people. If they fail to do this, he said, it means that the Papuan people are merely the colonial possession of a
foreign power, while the world is only concerned with human rights, which, he said, is nonsense.
'We call upon the international community to discuss the issue of the right to self-determination, whereas this right of the Papuan people is being trampled underfoot. He was speaking after the court in Jayapura
rejected the demurrer of the defendants submitted by the legal team of the Papuan defendants, Forkorus Yaboisembut,
Edicon Waromi, Dominikus Surabut, Selpius Bobii and Agust Kraar.
Forkorus said that the international community has remained silent about the basic right of the Papuan people to
self-determination, while it concerns itself only with the issue of human rights. The concept of human rights without
any further evidence means that the international community is only toying with the problem, while there is plenty of
evidence. Talking about human rights while claiming that if these rights are recognised for all nations, this will be
the way to safeguard peace in the world.' This, he said, is utter nonsense.'
The international community, the USA, the European Union and the United Nations,never talk about the basic right of the
Papuan people, who are campaigning all over the world and to other colonised people; this is is nothing more than empty
talk.
Forkorus said that the world must give real proof of the concept of human rights by taking into account the importance
of the political rights of the people of West Papua. The international community must prove its commitment to human
rights because the Papuan people are bound by their right to speak out. This is an issue that lies deep in the hearts of
all people including the people of West Papua. [The word used here is kesulungan the precise meaning of which escapes
me, C Budiardjo]
'When I say that I am a West Papuan, what then do you say? No one can force me to do anything. I have the absolute right
to be a West Papuan.'
Edison Waromi who was standing beside Forkorus when he made this statement, said that the right of kesulungan
[unchallengability ?] is recognised in the Bible to which the Papuan people are devoted. Quoting Verse 32, (8) of
Deuteronomy in the Bible he said: 'It is God who determines the territory of all people' which means that something
determined by God cannot be challenged.' The territory of West Papua belongs to the people of West Papua.
When this was said, the crowd outside the courthouse cheered and applauded.
Related articles
•From the trial of Forkorus and his colleagues (westpapuamedia.info)
•Unconfirmed reports of imminent major security crackdown in West Papua (westpapuamedia.info)
•Makar accused reject charges, and Indonesian jurisdiction over Papua in adjourned trial (Photo Report) (westpapuamedia.info)
•Statement from 5 Makar accused at KP3 treason trial (westpapuamedia.info)
•Treason Trials: Panel of judges reject demurrer by defendants (westpapuamedia.info)
westpapuamedia | February 16, 2012 at 6:13 am |
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