INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR WEST PAPUA

[webmaster]

Per email ontvangen 12-10-2008: Press Release: INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR WEST PAPUA At the Houses of Commons, London on 15th October 2008 at 3pm, will be the launch event for a historical international gathering of Parliamentarians, in support of self determination for the native people of West Papua. Exiled West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda will be joined by Melanesians & Parliamentarians from across the world for the launch of 'International Parliamentarians for West Papua'. Please assemble in Parliament Square for 2pm. The day of celebration, will start with traditional West Papua music & dance performed by West Papuans from the Netherlands, in Parliament Square, over especially for the occasion. The launch in Parliament is to be co-hosted by Hon. Andrew Smith MP & Lord Harries. The aim of the group will be to co-ordinate international parliamentary action on West Papua. Speakers include: Ms Melinda Janki - International Human rights Lawyer Hon. Andrew Smith MP (U.K.) Lord Harries (U.K.) Benny Wenda (WEST PAPUA) Hon. Powes Parkop LLB LLM MP (PAPUA NEW GUINEA) Hon. Carcasses Moana Kalosil MP (VANUATU) Please join us on this landmark day in West Papuan history. CONTACT: +44 (0)845 2579145 - Office@FreeWestPapua.org http://www.FreeWestPapua.org

[Koen J de Jager]

Op woensdag 15 oktober 2008 vond in het parlementsgebouw in Londen - Engeland de lancering plaats van de "International Parlementarians for West Papua" plaats in het parlementsgebouw Het beeldverslag kunt u vinden op youtube - IPWP of met onderstaande links. Deel 1: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=amIf-AC8zwM Deel 2: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=tahIl6piVy4 Deel 3: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=jksB0MNAGNU Deel 4: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=ymgfrINm0bc Deel 5: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfjoXsqWAQ Deel 6: http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=K6tEwtMnh00 Aanwezig waren o.a. leden van de Free West Papua Campaign Engeland en Nederland, Andrew Smith (Liberals), Lord Richard Harris, Lord Avebury (beiden Liberals - House of Lords), Moane Carcasses Kalosil parlementslid voor de Greens uit Vanuatu, John Otto Ondowame uit Vanuatu, Julian McKinlay King uit Australië (AWPA), Mrs. Melinda Janki, internationaal juriste, Carmel Budjardo en Paul Barber van Tapol Engeland. Vrijdagavond werd nog een promotieavond gegeven in de plaats Reading, waar eveneens de burgemeester van Reading, Peter Breard met echtgenote aanwezig was en Caroline Lucas, Europees parlementariër van de Greens die zich eveneens voor de Papuazaak inzet en hierover ook haar mening ventileerde. Nederlandse parlementariërs waren eveneens uitgenodigd; helaas was in deze periode herfstreces en bezocht een delegatie Indonesië. Slechts Kees van der Staaij (SGP) reageerde met een e-mail naar Engeland met de mededeling, dat hij niet aanwezig kon zijn. Nederlands Dagblad: ,,West-Papoea nog steeds een kolonie'' door Aad Kamsteeg: http://www.west-papua.nl/Publiciteit/We ... olonie.htm OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR WEST PAPUA IN THE UK HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT: http://www.west-papua.nl/Publiciteit/Pa ... 0PAPUA.htm Foto's: http://www.west-papua.nl/Publiciteit/Pa ... 01_028.htm

[webmaster]

Binnengekomen bericht via email op 24 oktober 2008: Voor diegenen, die het e.e.a. hebben gemist van de lancering van de International Parliamentarians for West Papua nog één keer alles "op een rijtje". In de bijlage (http://www.west-papua.nl/Publiciteit/Ca ... 202008.pdf) de speech van Caroline Lucas (MEP - Greens) gehouden op 17 okt. 2008. Lancering 15 0kt. 2008 in het Parlementsgebouw te Londen. Alhoewel persbureau Antara rept over slechts 2 Engelse politici, waren aanwezig: Andrew Smith (MP - Liberals) Lord Richard Harris (House of Lords - Liberals) Lord Avebury (House of Lords - Liberals) Moane Carcasses Kalosil (MP - Greens Vanuatu) John Otto Ondowame (Vanuatu) Julian McKinlay King (Australië - AWPA) Mrs. Melinda Janki (internationaal juriste) Carmel Budiardjo en Paul Barber (Tapol Engeland) leden van de Free West Papua Campaign Engeland en Nederland. Nederlandse parlementariërs waren eveneens uitgenodigd. Mr. C.G. (Kees) van der Staaij (SGP) e-mailde, als enige, naar Engeland dat hij niet aanwezig kon zijn i.v.m. zijn reis naar Indonesië. Verslag (Engels) en foto's: http://www.infopapua.org/artman/publish ... 1845.shtml http://www.infopapua.org/artman/publish ... 1846.shtml Het Nederland dagblad publiceerde hierover op 17 en 22 okt. 2008: http://www.nd.nl/zoekresultaten?terms=Papoea (of ga naar http://www.west-papua.nl/Publiciteit.htm) Beelden zijn te bekijken op Youtube - video - zoekterm IPWP en op http://papuanews.viavideo.nl/ (de aparte youtube items staan hierboven vermeld) Vrijdagavond 17 oktober 2008 : "Reading International Festival" Lezing van Caroline Lucas (Member.Europ. Parl. - Greens): "West Papua: the Pacific's Forgotten Tragedy". Optreden dans- en zanggroep Mambesak - Nederland. Ook aanwezig de burgemeester van Reading, Mayor Peter Breard (Liberals) met echtgenote. Wij informeerden de buitenlandwoordvoerders van onze politieke partijen als bovenstaand.

[Koen J de Jager]

The Reading Chronicle Published: Wednesday, 29th October, 2008 09:00

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Secret war: West Papuan Mambesak dancers with chief Benny Wenda (centre), the mayoress of Reading Cynthia Beard and mayor Cllr Peter Beard. Pic by: Rose Harland 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 http://www.freewestpapua.org

[Koen J de Jager]

Papuan Freedom Struggle Enters House Of Lords Download Papuan Freedom Struggle Enters House Of Lords in MP3 format: http://www.thewire.org.au/audio/TWPapua.mp3 Produced by Tom Changarathil On 15th of October this year, The International Parliamentarian’s for West Papua was launched at the House of Lords in Britain. An initiative to bring attention and gain support for West Papuan freedom from Indonesia. John Ondawame was part of the delegation present in UK to launch this initiative.He is the International spokesperson for OPM or Free Papua Movement and is featured in this story.