'Rape, torture... nobody knows'

Published 29 Oct 2008 09:00 1 Comment

EXILES from West Papua have visited Reading to plead for help in their struggle for justice in their homeland.

The group told a packed audience that included the mayor and mayoress about their fight for independence from Indonesia. South East MEP Dr Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, also spoke at the meeting on October 17.

Chief Benny Wenda, chairman of the Koteka Tribal Assembly, said: "In West Papua there is rape, torture and murder by Indonesia. Nobody knows about it.

"The military put me in prison for 25 years for peacefully holding a demonstration. I was in prison for nine months in 2002 before I escaped. They wanted to kill me so I fled. There was a hole in the ventilation system that another prisoner had made, I broke it, climbed up and got through.

"I prayed if I'm free, I will bring the message to the people out there. We are looking for help all around the country and the people of Reading are very welcoming and supportive. I hope they will put pressure on the British government to look at the situation."

Mr Wenda also condemned multinational companies operating in the country for aiding Indonesia and polluting the environment.

Western New Guinea - referred to by its occupants as West Papua - was formerly known as Irian Jaya and is the western half of the island of New Guinea, north of Australia. It was a Dutch colony before Indonesia took control in 1963, holding a controversial referendum in 1969, which West Papuans argue was conducted at gunpoint.

Mayor of Reading, cllr Peter Beard, who as a member of the RAF was stationed in Malaysia in 1964 during its conflict with Indonesia, said: "For us, this meeting is about learning what is happening in West Papua and the raw deal the West Papuans are getting. I think it important that these things are brought to light."

The evening at the Reading International Solidarity Centre (Risc) in London Street included a screening of West Papua - The Secret War and a street theatre performance.

Dr Lucas said: "This meeting is a wonderful opportunity to mobilise more people to put pressure on our own government and the governments around the world. What's fantastic about Reading is that it does have such a strong community supporting these campaigns and a strong international community."

The evening ended with singing and dancing by the Mambesak dancers - joined by the mayor.

Organiser Dr Sean O'Leary, a physics lecturer at the University of Reading, said: "Reading is a town with a good population of activists who are really interested in high-lighting international issues. The message of this meeting is that is that it's up to us who have a voice in the west to speak out for the people of West Papua. There are terrible things going on there."

The Free West Papua Campaign's website is www.freewestpapua.org

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 29 Oct 08

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