West Papua’s Flag Day

Yesterday, the 1st of December 2013 events were held across West Papua, Australia and the world to mark the day West Papua’s flag was first raised in preparation for Independence from the Dutch in 1961.

Global solidarity for a free West Papua is surging in the wake of the unprecedented public awareness generated by the Freedom Flotilla to West Papua and the occupation of the Australian Embassy in Bali during the APEC summit.

Supporters in Melbourne welcomed the arrival of Jeremy Bally, ‘ Pedalling for Papua’, http://www.pedallingforpapua.com/ on the completion of his worldwide cycling tour raising awareness about the ‘slow-motion genocide’ in West Papua through his unique animated spoken-word ukulele performances.

The last leg of Jeremy’s 12,000km journey began at Clayton Railway Station at 11am, Sunday 1st December. Cyclists flying Morning Star flags, joined him to ride along the Yarra Bike Path before being welcomed at St Paul’s Cathedral at 2pm. The riders were welcomed by Taungurong Elder Uncle Larry Walsh, Greens Senator-elect Janet Rice, and the Freedom Flotilla with entertainment provided by David Bridie, Combat Wombat, a West Papuan String Band and traditional dancers.

In West Papua, displaying the Morning Star flag is consistently met with violent reprisals, arrests and charges of treason carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Despite this West Papuans have defiantly raised their flag every 1st of December since 1961.

At least 200 West Papuans student leaders have been arrested during the last week in a crackdown by police ahead of this year’s planned demonstrations. Five activists are believed to have been shot by police on Tuesday the 26th of November 2013, with one body found dumped in Lake Sentani. Indonesian National Police Chief Gen. Sutarman has confirmed that this year’s flag raising ceremonies are forbidden and will be met with force.

At 6am in Port Moresby, a march began at Unagi Oval to NCDC City Hall where a Free West Papua Campaign Office was officially opened by Port Moresby Governor Powes Parkop. At 6pm in Jack Pidik Park, Rize of the Morning Star hosted a concert with a line up consisting of artists from across the Pacific and Australia including George Telek, Airileke, and members of the Black Brothers.

Flag raising events were also planned in Brisbane, Darwin, London, Sydney, The Hague, Madrid, Warsaw, Istanbul, Copenhagen and Port Vila, as support continues to grow around the globe for West Papua’s right to self-determination.

And,

Photos. WP Flag raised at Balmain Town Hall, 29th Nov.

AWPA would like to thank Leichhardt Council for allowing the Morning Star flag to fly on its Balmain Town Hall today, 29 November as part of West Papuan national flag day (council closed on 1st Dec.). AWPA would like to thank in particular Councillor Michele McKenzie who raised the flag with Roger a local resident of Balmain and the other West Papuan supporters who also included members from various organisations including the Medical Asssociation for the Prevention of War.

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/west-papua-flag-raised-at-balmain-town.html

And,

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/30/west-papua-activist-png-threatening-arrest
West Papua activist says PNG is threatening him with arrest
The Guardian
Marni Cordell Saturday 30 November 2013 19.54 EST
Benny Wenda claims he was greeted with warning letter after arriving in Port Moresby to raise morning star banner

Fair Trials International has successfully argued that in the case of Benny Wenda Indonesia abused Interpol for political purposes. Photograph: Dancing Turtle Records Photograph: Dancing Turtle Records

The West Papuan activist Benny Wenda has said immigration officers in Papua New Guinea threatened to have him arrested along with an Australian lawyer for “engaging in political activities” and breaching their visa conditions.

Wenda and Jennifer Robinson plan to take part in an event in Port Moresby on Sunday to mark the West Papuan national day of 1 December. The event will culminate in a raising of the Indonesian province’s banned morning star flag at the Port Moresby city hall.

Wenda, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, told Guardian Australia: “The immigration and police are outside the hotel and they want to arrest me in a few hours’ time. I’m sure that the Indonesians gave the order to do it.”

He still expected the demonstration on Sunday to go ahead as planned. “Even if they arrest me and put me in jail, my people and all our Papua New Guinean friends are ready to still [raise the morning star flag].”

An organiser for the event, who asked not be named, told Guardian Australia: “Immigration officers and police came to the hotel where we are staying and they issued Benny with a letter. It’s a bit of a siege here actually.”

The letter was issued by the PNG immigration authorities and warned Wenda that taking part in political activities was a breach of his visitor’s entry visa.

The organiser said: “It won’t stop the action going ahead. Benny is ready to get arrested and people are ready to protect him.”

The threat came as a surprise to Robinson and Wenda who have said they are in PNG at the invitation of the Port Moresby governor, Powes Parkop.

And,

Photos of rally at Indonesian Consulate Sydney 1st December 2013
Speakers included , West Papuan representative Franciscus ,Anthony Craig (DLP), Cammi (WPP Project) and Andrew and Joe (AWPA)
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/photos-of-rally-at-indonesian-consulate.html

• Photos of today’s flag raising on Petersham Town Hall, 2nd December 2013

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/west-papua-flag-raised-on-petersham.html
Jo Wally, Senator-elect Janet Rice, Jo Collins and Anne Noonan, Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)