- Emily Mulligan – Avaaz.org
- Oct 8 at 3:33 PM
- To
Dear friends,
There’s a silent genocide going on in West Papua, where the indigenous population’s very survival is threatened! The Indonesian government has enforced a media blackout to make sure we don’t find out. But one story has leaked, causing an outcry. If we can break the blackout for good, we can expose the violence and begin the call for peace:  |
Just over a week ago, Indonesian police opened deadly fire on a market place in West Papua, injuring three. It was one of many brutal attacks on indigenous people that goes unreported because of a complete media blackout. But now a story about the violence has leaked, giving us a chance to break the blackout and begin the fight for peace.
Indonesia’s violent occupation of Papua has been going on for decades and over 500,000 people have been killed. Those that speak up against it are thrown into prison, tortured and exiled. The media blackout is a key tool the Indonesian government uses to keep the world from condemning their violence. But journalists are clamouring to get in, and the most recent leaked story is helping to build the pressure. Our voices now could tip the balance and force the government to open the borders to the press.
Indonesia’s blanket of silence allows the occupation to continue. But our call now could change everything. Sign now to shine a light on the silent genocide:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/free_west_papua_2/?bBYMjdb&v=29918
According to reports in West Papua resistance media, Papuan men with long beards or dreadlocks were ordered at gunpoint to cut their hair during last week’s deadly raid. Sadly these raids are commonplace in a territory with no freedom of expression and well documented cases of torture. One study even suggests that the very survival of the indigenous people of West Papua is threatened!
Momentum for the West Papuan people is growing, with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Moana Carcasses condemning Indonesia and the UN for systematically ignoring the genocide in West Papua at the UN General Assembly. Now let’s tip the balance in favour of the West Papuan people and demand freedom of the press in the occupied country so that the international community can’t remain silent. Sign now:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/free_west_papua_2/?bBYMjdb&v=29918
Together, Avaaz members have achieved so much for stateless people around the world, including a call of more than 1 million people from all over the world to help push through the call for Palestinian independence. Now, our 26 million strong global community can shine a light on this silent genocide.
With hope,
Emily, Allison, Iain, Rewan, Mais, Vilde, Diego and the whole Avaaz team
PS – Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community. It’s easy to get started – click to start yours now and win on any issue – local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
MORE INFORMATION
Indonesian police open fire on civilians in West Papua (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/indonesian-police-civilians-west-papuaM
1 dead, 3 shot in Waghete (West Papua Media)
http://westpapuamedia.info/2013/09/25/1-dead-3-shot-in-waghete-paniai-by-brimob-for-refusing-to-shave-dreadlocks/
Genocide in West Papua? (University of Sydney)
http://wpik.org/Src/WestPapuaGenocideRpt.05.pdf
Out of Sight: Endemic Abuse and Impunity in Papua’s Central Highlands (Human Rights Watch)
http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=topic&tocid=4565c225e&toid=&publisher=&type=&coi=&docid=46a7610f2&skip=0
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