West Papua: Independence movement defies repression By Ash Pemberton Rally for West Papuan independence in Port Vila, Vanuatu, March 5. Vanuatu will officially sponsor the case of West Papua in the International Court of Justice. Photo: Asia-pacific-action.org Indonesian military forces have stepped up their campaign of repression in West Papua in recent months. But leaders of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) continue to defy Indonesian demands to surrender. The campaign for West Papuan independence has been amplified by the continuing repression and lack of improvement of living standards under the current “special autonomy” system. An eyewitness report from West Papua Media Announcements (WPMA) posted on Pacific.scoop.co.nz on June 16 described a large military mobilisation in the mountainous Puncak Jaya region in central West Papua. The report said the Indonesian military and the paramilitary Mobile Brigade (Brimob) have engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation ...
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