Exiled West Papuan leader asks Scots to join struggle for freedom
A man who was been charge a 25 year prison sentence for raising his nation’s flag will tell his story in Edinburgh today. Benny Wenda, who escaped from prison in Indonesia, was granted asylum in the UK and is asking Scots to support his nation’s struggle for independence.
“Imagine being put in prison for 25 years for raising the Scottish flag. My people face torture, oppression and death because we want the right to decide on our own future.” Benny Wenda explains.
“It was amazing to be welcomed to the Scottish Parliament this week, and to find support for our cause among MSPs. People in West Papua are demonstrating on the streets because their story is reaching Scotland. We hope that the Scottish, with their strong sense of social justice, will support our struggle for freedom.”
West Papua, the Western half of the Isle of New Guinea, is home to hundreds of indigenous tribes, and swathes of rainforest. However for the past 43 years Papuans have been struggling to get their voice heard, since the Indonesian military rigged a referendum on independence.
It is only recently, since exiled Papuans are telling their story to the outside world, that people in West Papua have renewed their calls for a fresh referendum.
On Thursday the International Parliamentarians for West Papua group was launched at the Scottish Parliament with a fantastic initial response. 5 MSPs from the Scottish National Party attended and others have expressed support since the event. However they are asking more MSPs to join the group, and to make sure that Indonesia knows the world is watching.
