Rebel leader West Papua in The Hague
Waar: The Hague University of Applied Sciences , Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, The Hague, Netherlands (GPS lat: 52.067075 lon: 4.323974)
Wanneer: 12/06/2013 - 19:00
FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/494057663997335/?ref=22
Benny Wenda is a West Papuan independence leader and an international lobbyist. He lives in exile in the United Kingdom. In 2003 he was granted political asylum by the British Government following his escape from custody while on trial in West Papua.
The Critical Collective is proud to be hosting Mr. Wenda for his firs public-speaking event in The Netherlands - The Hague on June 12th, 2013! Make space in your schedules for a unique opportunity to heard the West-Papuan tribal independence leader speak live.
For over four-hundred years West Papua has been under colonial oppression - first under Dutch rule and, since 1945, by the Indonesian government itself. Throughout the occupation, but especially in recent years, the island has been plundered of its enormous natural resources. Meanwhile the local population has been violently oppressed and abused, and does not benefit from the vast riches under their feet whilst foreign corporations, quite literally, are making a killing.
In 2011, the Indonesian Government issued an International Arrest Warrant for Benny’s arrest through Interpol. In August 2012, in a landmark case Interpol removed the Red Notice against Benny, after an investigation concluded that the Indonesian Government had abused the system in a politically motivated attempt to silence Benny.
Tags: west papua independence
West-Papua has been under Dutch rule until 1969.
West-Papua was promised Independence by the Dutch government in 1949 (independence from both the Netherlands and from Indonesia)
The Indonesian government didn't really start ruling until 1948 (although it occupied the rural areas of Java and Sumatra).
Between 1946 an 1949 There was an atrocious war between the Indonesian and Dutch governments. (More info about the after WW2 atrocities by the Dutch on http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politionele_acties)
Since 1969 West-Papua has been occupied by the Indonesian army. This is accepted by the US because of mining contracts for American companies.