West Papuans have made a desperate call to Top Ghanaian officials to help them In the fight for liberation from Indonesia. The Spokesman for the West Papuan Liberation Movement (WPLM), Benny Wanda joined Ghanaians to celebrate the country’s 59 independence anniversary. He met with prominent people and top officials like former Presidents J.A Kuffuor and J.J Rawlings to dialogue on how effectively they could help liberate west Papua from Indonesia. In a statement released they claimed they wanted the freedom to have their own culture, language, education and relate to their African roots as they are so different from the people of Indonesia.
“It is important that humanity should be central to everything. As a human being you are entitled to humanity. In due course humanity will prevail and you will be free. The whole world will support you. Not even Indonesia can stop it………..you see yourselves as Africans……. Despite the distances between our places we are the same. Clearly you are not Indonesian.” -Former president J.J Kuffuor stated.
Again Former President Jerry John Rawlings has also pledged his support to fight for the independence of the West Papuans.
He said “we are honoured to fight for your people. We share a similar history.It is no surprise to me that you had support from Ghana at the UN in 1969 and that we accepted West Papuan refugees in the 1980’s. West Africa has seen slavery, colonial struggles and independence. I suggest that you contact and lobby every congressman, senator and parliamentarian. The European Commission, the AU and all organisations. Keep knocking and knock again, don’t let them sleep. We will contribute by reminding them West Papuan needs its freedom…Keep fighting”
West Papua (Indonesian: Papua Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It covers the two western peninsulas of the island of New Guinea. Its capital is Manokwari, although the largest city is Sorong, and the 2010 census recorded a population of 760,855;[1] the latest official estimate (as at January 2014) is 877,437.
West Papua Province was created from the western portion of Papua (province) in February 2003, initially under the name of West Irian Jaya’ (Indonesian: Irian Jaya Barat); it received its current name in 2007. The province covers the Bird’s Head (Doberai) and Bomberai peninsulas and the surrounding islands of Raja Ampat. With a population of 877,437 in 2014,[1] it is the least populous province of Indonesia except for the newly created province of North Kalimantan
Source: Carenews
