Denpasar – Scores of people from the People’s United Forum (FPR) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) held a rally in and around the Renon area in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Friday January 18.
Carrying banners with the message “Save Nduga”, during the action that began at around 10am they conveyed several principle demands including opposing military operations in Nduga, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the military from Nduga and throughout the land of Papua, and giving the right of self-determination to the nation of West Papua.
Speaking during a break in the rally, FPR and AMP spokesperson Natalis Ukega said that the group opposes the military operations in Nduga, is calling on the government to immediately withdraw the military from Nduga and that the United Nations must form an investigation team to analyse and investigate what is happening in Nduga.
“Give access to local, national and international [media] to report in Nduga, Papua, and we emphatically convey that Jokowi [President Joko Widodo] and JK {Vice President Jusuf Kalla] must not lie to the public about the latest struggle by the West Papua National Liberation Army. Give the right of self-determination to the West Papua nation as a democratic solution so that Papuans are free from brutality and oppression in their own land”, said Ukega on Friday.
In relation to the current situation in Nduga, according to Ukega they have not been able to see it first-hand because the area has been closed off by the military.
“It can be said that up until now we are still in a situation where there are many casualties, where many people are suffering oppression in their own land of Papua”. (bbn/aga/rob)
Notes
According to a report by Radio New Zealand International, there were also “Save Nduga” rallies in Jakarta, Salatiga in Central Java and Ambon in Maluku, although it does not appear that the Indonesian media has reported on these yet.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Aksi Demo Forum Persatuan Rakyat dan AMP Tuntut Tarik Militer dari Nduga”.]
