Surya Anta, a leading member of People’s Liberation Party (used to be KPRM-PRD), was under arrest at Police Resort Metro Central Jakarta at noon 1st August 2011. He was arrested after given solidarity speech in protest action of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) this afternoon in front of Presidential Palace, Jakarta. This protes action was a support action to International Summit Conference of International Lawyers for West Papua (see below) , which will be held on August 2nd 2011, in London. The similar action was also held in several cities in Papua [1] today.
After at least 7 hours interogation Surya Anta was released at 09:41 PM Jakarta time.
He was interrogated and also beaten as police found no basis for him to be detained. So he was put as witness and police warned him not to support any Papuan issues and actions anymore. Police forced him to sign a letter for not making any provocation in Papua protest actions in the future. Surya himself has been more than 7 years involved in solidarity movement for democracy in Papua since he was still member of People’s Democratic Party until now through People’s Liberation Party-PLP. Together with other comerads in PLP, he participated in inititating several conferences and studies for Papua liberation and established solidarity group such as Solidarity for Aceh and Papua (2005), Solidarity for Papua (2010), etc.
We are glad he is being released and this will not happen without all supports from comerads (national and international level) especially comrads from The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) who have given him assistance during the detention.
Struggle continues for Papua people’s liberation.
Thank you very much for you immediate response.
Zely Ariane
International Relation Coordinator
People’s Liberation Party.
’West Papua – The Road to Freedom’, 2nd August 2011, Oxford, UK
By FWPC
The conference will take place on 2nd August 2011, from 2pm to 5pm. The venue is the East School of the Examination Schools, 75-81 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BG. Directions can be found here:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/schools/contact/map/
You may also join us outside Oxford Town Hall at 1pm if you wish to accompany us and Papuans in traditional dress play music and walk to the conference.
There are still some places available if you have not yet booked and would still like to attend please do get in touch. More details below:
West Papua has been illegally occupied by Indonesia for over 40 years. As part of the ongoing campaign for freedom, the Free West Papua Campaign and the International Lawyers for West Papua are honoured to invite you to a very special conference: West Papua – The Road to Freedom.
The conference, to take place in Oxford on 2nd August 2011, will bring together Papuan independence leaders, international lawyers, parliamentarians and NGOs. These experts will present the background to the current problems in West Papua and highlight the legal and moral arguments as to how they may be resolved.
’West Papua – The Road to Freedom’ is a landmark event in a 40-year campaign for independence. It will present the strongest case to date that the people of West Papua have the right to self-determination under international law. People across West Papua will be following the conference and will use its outcomes to further their campaign for freedom.
Speakers at the conference will include:
– Benny Wenda West Papuan independence leader
– Frances Raday Expert Member of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
– John Saltford Expert on the 1969 Act of Free Choice
– Clement Ronawery Witness to the 1969 Act of Free Choice
– Ralph Regenvanu Vanuatu Justice Minister
– Louis Yandeken Papua New Guinea lawyer and long term supporter for West Papuan independence
The conference will be chaired by Andrew Smith MP (Chair, International Parliamentarians for West Papua) and Jen Robinson (Lawyer and member of ILWP). We will also be joined via video link by Dr. Benny Giay and Rev. Sofyan Yoman, two leading West Papuan human rights and independence activists.
We very much hope you will be able to join us on this important occasion. There will be plenty of opportunities to question the speakers and discuss the future road to freedom.
The conference will take place on 2nd August 2011, from 2pm to 5pm. The venue is the East School of the Examination Schools, 75-81 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BG. If you would like to attend the conference please RSVP to conference ilwp.org with your name, address and if you are part of an organisation. There is no fee for attending the conference but we continue to welcome all donations to the Free West Papua Campaign.