I am full of grief to learn reports that 4 more West Papuan people were killed and 8 more shot in cold blood by the Indonesian military and police in Yapen last week. According to recent reports, on 1st December the Indonesian military raided Wanampompi village in the Angkaisera district on Yapen Island. The villagers were simply raising the West Papuan national flag and peacefully commemorating West Papua National Day, which is marked internationally with a Global Flag Raising. But while hundreds of people around the world were able to freely raise the West Papuan flag and show their support for West Papua’s freedom, West Papuans were arrested beaten and killed just for doing so.
Unconfirmed information says that at 07:30 on 1st December, the Indonesian military and police arrived at Wanampomi village and stopped in front of the house of Adraibi Herik, where the West Papuan flag was raised. The Indonesian authorities asked Andraibi to come out and then suddenly they opened fire, instantly killing 4 West Papuans and injuring 8 more. The exact details of all the victims is not yet known.*
It breaks my heart every time I hear such news of yet another human rights atrocity committed by the Indonesian authorities against my people. How can the raising of a national flag justify the shooting and killing of innocent people?
It is very clear that the Indonesian government’s intention is to wipe out the people of West Papua from the face of the Earth. Last month, 2 days ago, we West Papuans mourned on the Anniversary of the notorious Paniai Massacre when 5 West Papuan children were brutally killed and 17 others shot by the Indonesian military at a peaceful demonstration. In fact only last month, West Papuan Independence Leader Rihko Wambu died from his injuries after being brutally tortured by the Indonesian police in August. This combined with other serious human rights abuses such as the shooting and beating of West Papuan students in Jakarta, adds to the escalating human rights crisis facing West Papuans.
Indonesia has been praised for becoming a democracy but while there may be democracy in Indonesia, there is still no democracy in occupied West Papua.
We are not free to raise our national flag without fear of being given a 15 year jail sentence or even shot.
Is that democracy?
We are not free to peacefully demonstrate for Independence without fear of being tortured and locked up.
Is that democracy?
We are not free to express our desires for our future by exercising our right to self-determination and are demonised and targeted just for calling for this fundamental right to be recognised,
Is that democracy?
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