International Forum for West Papua (INFO_WP)
I have to decide no return back home and seeking protection in Australia as my activist friend of 43 West Papuan who
escaped by boat in 2006. Fundamentally it is motivated by my strong political commitment so I must to contribute whole
energy for independence struggle for West Papua. I have big duty to defend our Melanesian culture, land and values to
save future generation despite I have been faced bloody experience during many years in my political involvement within
Indonesian colonial rule. The right of self-determination have to be respected and protected to ensure human dignity
without any ignorance such whatever law as top leader of United Nations, Ban Ki moon in PIF meeting 2011 mentioned Independence state or non-self-governing territory or whatever the human rights is inalienable and a fundamental
principle of the United Nations, we will do all to ensure that people in West Papua their human rights will be respected. It will be guaranteed when the West Papua became full member at two regional governmental bodies of MSG and PIF,
current application of permanent member at MSG has been summited by West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
As eye witness I have to find more opportunity to tell human sufferings, victims and aspirations in such freedom and
democratic state of Australia due to there was no democracy in west Papua. Despite the Government of Indonesia claimed
publically that they are democratic country who protects and guarantees freedom of expression and movement, however
international acknowledgment highlighted people of Papua always highly cost with premises many of human death. For real
outcome reported out that current security tension more higher risky with many of independence activist death, members
of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and others who voiced aspirations in a peaceful manner for their rights given
stigmatized negatively as terrorist and criminalist groups by Indonesian government. I strongly indicated this negative
stigma of terrorist or criminalist group only justifying Indonesia to shoot death and imprison Papuan human rights and
independence activists. In the other hand, I would like to express the real evidences, lack of Indonesian colonial
authority to ensure good democracy, improvement of human rights and peace plan, hence my critical inquiry if Indonesia
is democratic state why the government bans to excess foreign journalist, world humanitarian organisations and UN’s
special rapporteur into West Papua.
Oppression and injustice have been prolonging for Papuan people since the territory was annexed on May 1st 1963 until
the present time been killed nearly a million Papuan including hugely had destroyed human lives and property. Demand of
Papuan people to gain their basic rights of self-determination includes of civil and political rights cannot stopped
through such ways of terrorizing, arresting, torturing, imprisonment and murdering for innocent native Melanesian under
military regime of Indonesia then it is time for Indonesia government to uphold international human rights law to
achieve willingness of Papuan. As long as Indonesia government using by military approach on the case of west Papua
never and will not ever to solve out the long enduring problem but at least undeniably creating potential conflict,
killings, and other persecution for innocent Melanesian population.
I have jointed to activist friends the 43 asylum seeker who came by boat especially the motorist or Captain Mesak Karubaba or the key man with his role as adviser of International Forum for West Papua (INFO_WP) based in Australia. Now my role
is coordinating the political and human rights department affairs of INFO_WP which was appointed by President.
By Wenslaus Edowai
Coordinator of Political and Human Rights Department
ENDS