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Thousands gather in pro-independence march in West Papua after October killings
14/11/2011
Protesters demand the organization of a referendum on self-determination · Six Papuans were killed last month while the pro-independence Papuan Congress was being held
The killings of several Papuans last month in a pro-independence congress have not stopped West Papuans from marching in demand of a referendum on their separation from Indonesia. According to AFP, some 3,000 people have walked on Monday a 13-kilometer-long march ending in West Papuan capital city Jayapura. Their goal was to meet local MPs to recall the need for the organization of a referendum on independence.
The march comes after six people were killed during the celebration of the Papua Congress, a pro-independence rally in Abepura, a town close to Jayapura. The bodies of the dead people were found after the Indonesian army had broken up the pro-independence gathering. West Papuan activists argue that the deaths were caused by the army itself.
50 years of struggle
The West Papuan pro-independence movement is calling for the independence of the former Dutch colony since the 1960s. Indonesia, however, considers that West Papua has no right to self-determination since in a 1969 vote, Papuan elders agreed to join Indonesia. Pro-independence organizations say that the vote was flawed and non-democratic, since only a small share of the population was allowed to vote.
Further information:
- West Papua Media: latest news and reports
