Pan-Pacific solidarity for West Papua launched at protest

April 18, 2015

Today, history was made in London as West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda declared the start of a new Pan-Pacific solidarity for West Papua.

Free West Papua Campaign protest held

Today, the Free West Papua Campaign held a protest in front of the Indonesian Embassy in London to call for freedom and to raise awareness and more Melanesian/Pacific solidarity for West Papua. The event was a big success and we feel we raised a lot of essential awareness and put pressure on the Indonesian government to release West Papua.

Among those who attended was Paul Aiton, the former captain of the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Team. Paul, who is well known throughout PNG, feels very strongly about the suffering of his fellow Melanesians in West Papua and is committed to helping to raise awareness and support for the cause.

We would like to thank him and everyone who attended the protest for their solidarity and support for the West Papuan freedom struggle.

Pan-Pacific solidarity for West Papua

At the end of the protest, West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda held a banner with Paul Aiton, acknowledging One Pacific family; that West Papua is Melanesian and that Indonesia is not. Such solidarity continues to increase dramatically in the wake of the representative United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) submitting an application to join the sub-regional Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

In a written statement, Benny said “We are launching a major campaign today, starting here in the United Kingdom. From now on we are calling on all our Melanesian and Pan-Pacific brothers and sisters to unite hand in hand to bring West Papua back to the Pacific family. We are asking all our Pan-Pacific people across the Ocean to support us in our struggle for freedom and our first steps to nationhood and self-determination by joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group.”

The Free West Papua Campaign will continue to encourage Pan-Pacific solidarity for West Papua and keep Melanesians and other Pacific islanders updated on what they can do to help the West Papuan freedom struggle.

We are positive that with continued support from other Pacific nations, West Papua will join the MSG this year and will continue to be pushed up on the international agenda for self-determination and freedom.

We would like to thank everyone around the world for their ongoing solidarity for the West Papuan people.

With your help, West Papua will one day be finally free.