AsiaPacificReport.nz
A West Papua video marking the global Morning Star flag-raising event today.
About 20 academics, librarians, journalists and Pacific issues activists gathered at the Pacific Media Centre at noon today for a Morning Star flag-raising ceremony as part of global actions for West Papuan freedom.
Kevin McBride of Pax Christi and the Asia Pacific Human Rights Coalition (APHRC) spoke of the important human rights concerns for West Papua and how “we’re all part of the oppression” with New Zealand’s complicity with Indonesian policies.
PMC’s Dr David Robie talked of the “vision of hope” with mounting solidarity and support in Pacific Island nations, especially the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
But he criticised the “collaboration” of Fiji and Papua New Guinea governments with Jakarta and highlighted the emerging stand in support of self-determination being taken by an Indonesian human rights group, Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua.
Del Abcede praised the turnout and spoke of another “creative” flag-raising ceremony being planned by Māori and Pacific women from the Oceania Interrupted collective at Mangere Bridge later today.
Oceania Interrupted was formed on 1 December 2013 in response to the need to raise awareness about Indonesian colonisation and human rights abuses being committed against the indigenous people of West Papua.
Kevin McBride of Pax Christi and Luqman Hayes of AUT Library’s digital journal Tuwhera project at the West Papua flag-raising today. West Papuans risk a 15-year jail sentence for raising this outlawed national flag. Image: Del Abcede/PMC Supporters of West Papuan self-determination at the Morning Star flag-raising at the Pacific Media Centre today. Image: Del Abcede/PMC Supporters of West Papuan self-determination at the flag-raising ceremony today. Image: Del Abcede/PMC “Free West Papua” message at the Pacific Media Centre today. Image: Del Abcede/PMC Supporters of a “Free West Papua” at the flag-raising ceremony today. Image: Luqman Hayes/AUT ]]>
