{"id":2195,"date":"2024-12-06T21:05:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T21:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=2195"},"modified":"2024-12-06T21:05:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T21:05:17","slug":"port-vila-commemorates-63-years-of-west-papuas-struggle-for-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=2195","title":{"rendered":"Port Vila commemorates 63 years of West Papua\u2019s struggle for Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Ezra Toara Dec 4, 2024<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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December 1, 2024 is a date deeply significant to all West Papuans, marking 63 years since the Morning Star Flag was first raised for independence and justice for West Papua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s event in Vanuatu’s capital was commemorated at Sorovango School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we honour those who have fallen in our struggle, we also celebrate our ongoing resistance to Indonesian colonialism,\u201d said Benny Wenda, Interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Provisional Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Interim President reflected on December 1, 2020, as a pivotal date when the ULMWP announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of West Papua. \u201cSince then, we have solidified our foundations, drafting a Constitution, forming a cabinet, adopting a Green State Vision, and appointing seven executives representing West Papua\u2019s customary regions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legitimacy of this government lies in the people\u2019s mandate, with a historic milestone reached in 2023 during the ULMWP Congress\u2014the first democratic election in West Papua\u2019s history. More than 5,000 West Papuans gathered in Jayapura to elect leaders and assert control over their movement. \u201cThis came at great sacrifice, but it was necessary to demonstrate our commitment to democracy even before achieving independence,\u201d Wenda noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Congress confirmed three central agendas: full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), securing a United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights visit, and a resolution at the UN General Assembly. \u201cThrough our Congress, we have firmly placed the struggle in the hands of our people. The ULMWP is prepared to act when the time for liberation comes,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Wenda acknowledged the inherent challenges of unity in any revolution. \u201cDiffering views are inevitable, but the ULMWP and our constitution provide the sole pathway to liberation. We are not separatists; we are a government-in-waiting, representing the unified will of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honouring West Papua\u2019s history, Wenda affirmed the ULMWP Constitution\u2019s recognition of prior independence declarations, including those from 1961, 1971, 1988, 2000, and 2011. \u201cEach declaration represents an unyielding rejection of Indonesian colonialism and embodies the spirit of Merdeka (freedom),\u201d he emphasised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, concerns persist regarding the policies of Indonesia\u2019s new president, Prabowo Subianto. \u201cHis administration has deployed more troops to West Papua, resumed illegal settlement programs, and initiated large-scale deforestation projects, endangering our land and culture,\u201d Wenda warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called on all West Papuans\u2014whether in cities, rural areas, refugee camps, or in exile\u2014to unite under the ULMWP Provisional Government. He urged the international community to intensify pressure on Indonesia to revisit the fraudulent Act of No Choice and uphold West Papua\u2019s right to self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condemning the criminalisation of pro-independence activities, Wenda cited the case of Defianus Kogoya, an activist tortured and imprisoned for his beliefs. \u201cIf Indonesia\u2019s offer of amnesty is genuine, it must include the release of all political prisoners and allow peaceful activism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite challenges, 2023 saw notable advancements. The Pacific Islands Forum reaffirmed its call for a UN Human Rights visit to West Papua, supported by over 100 nations. Meanwhile, the formation of the West Papua People\u2019s Liberation Front (GR-PWP) has strengthened the movement on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wenda concluded by thanking the GR-PWP administration, the National Committee for West Papua (Komite Nasional Papua Barat or KNPB), and the Alliance of Papuan Students for their invaluable contributions. \u201cYour efforts carry the spirit of Merdeka and bring us closer to liberation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source :https:\/\/www.dailypost.vu\/news\/port-vila-commemorates-63-years-of-west-papua-s-struggle-for-independence\/article_938a8527-9d9f-51b7-aa61-f3624768e1d9.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3WSAe-A0Oy-_RgQkhaybyOOaGO9ynFE6CMjJ1f757m42ELLN1JKMQZeeQ_aem_Ui0emmOtYprY-eKZPZgaTg<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ezra Toara Dec 4, 2024 December 1, 2024 is a date deeply significant to all West Papuans, marking 63 years since the Morning Star Flag was first raised for independence and justice for West Papua. This year\u2019s event in Vanuatu’s capital was commemorated at Sorovango School. \u201cAs we honour those who have fallen in our struggle, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,1,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-melanesia-roundup","category-uncategorized","category-vanuatu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2195"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2198,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2195\/revisions\/2198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}