Free West Papua

Newcastle City Council flew the West Papuan flag from City Hall today 1st December, confirming support for the people of West Papua in their struggle for freedom & human rights.



The Newcastle branch of the Australia West Papua Association organised the gathering at 4pm in front of City Hall to commemorate the official flag-raising / independence day of West Papua. I was invited to speak.

If you raise this flag in West Papua you could be jailed for 15 years or be beaten or shot by the Indonesian Government.

West Papua is one of Australia’s nearest neighbours. Invaded by Indonesia in 1962 its people are struggling for freedom. Like in East Timor, the Indonesian military are escalating human rights violations - imprisoning and killing supporters of independence. Australia owes a debt to the West Papuans who supported us in World War II.

This is an issue of grassroots democracy.

Like Sydney intervening in local Labor branches about preselections, like Sydney over-riding our local community about planning and development in our city, Indonesia and the international community (including the Australian Government) is over-riding the wishes of the Papuan people regarding self-determination.

For all who value our grassroots democracy, let's speak out for the people of West Papua.

Time for the West Papuans is running out. We must act to help our neighbours.