John Gratton Wilson, from the Australian West Papua Association south-western Victoria group, holds aloft a West Papua “morning star” independence flag during a flag-raising ceremony on Warrnambool’s Civic Green.
THE continuing fight for independence in West Papua received support in Warrnambool on Monday evening.
Monday was the 53rd anniversary of the Dutch announcing their intention for the province to become an independent nation. Nineteen days later Indonesia claimed the territory with a United Nations-backed vote, which many believe to have been corrupt.
The morning star flag, which was raised on the Civic Green, was the intended national flag.
Australian West Papua Association south-western Victoria spokesman John Gratton Wilson said the flag raising was a small gesture to show the fight for freedom was ongoing.
He said the group met monthly and raised funds for West Papuan refugees who live in villages along the border with Papua New Guinea.
“It’s now too dangerous for the West Papuan people to fly the flag in their own country,” he said.
“A 2012 report from Amnesty International estimated at least 100,000 deaths or disappearances during the past 50 years of Indonesian police and military rule.
“The West Papuans believe that figure is closer to 500,000. By any measure that is a state-controlled genocide.
“For over 50 years the world at large and successive Australian governments have looked the other way. This was a small gesture to show solidarity and support.”
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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