Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) charged that that the Indonesian government did not care about the lives of Papuans who speak up for independence.
“Whether you speak up for independence or not, you will die as long as your lives are in the hands of colonizers,” KNPB spokesman Bazoka Logo said during a special prayer session to support the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to be a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which took place in Waena, Jayapura, Papua, on Wednesday (24/6/2015).
He said a number of cases including Paniai shootings that killed four students have not been resolved.
“If the four students who were ordinary people could be easily killed, what about those who speak up for independence? Indonesia is only concerned about natural resources and not people ,” he said.
KNPB recorded that there are 29 KNPB member killed in the struggle for peace in the streets. Eric Logo was the first who got killed in April 2009 because of speaking up for independence. The number of killings increased since the killing of Teryoli Wea on June 1, 2012 in Abepura.
He then stated that Papuans can not run away from this reality. Papuans should fight for their right to freedom rather than silence and looking for a safe but reality will face the same fate.
“Not only killing the Papuan who fight for independence, Indonesia will kill any Papuans no matter their background. That’s the mission of this country. It is better to die because of fighting for Independence. We can not run away from reality “.
First chairman of KNPB, August Kosay said many Papuans were killed to protect Papuans’ identity. And it is a reality and will be a collective history. ” For example Arnold Ap, Papuan singer got killed. Many other people will face the same fate”.
Therefore, Papuans should not stand up and end the ongoing slaughter. “We’re into the third generation in the struggle. We must not be silent. We must fight, “he said. (Mawel Benny/ Tina)
