20/05/2024
The Peter Tatchell Human Rights Foundation has encouraged its supporters to consider protesting against the state of Indonesia and its occupation of West Papua. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua's President, Benny Wenda writes "I am truly horrified by the video that has emerged from of Indonesian soldiers torturing a West Papuan man. More than anything, the sadistic brutality on display shows how urgently West Papua needs a UN Human Rights visit. In the video, a group of soldiers kick, punch, and slash the young Papuan man, who has been tied and forced to stand upright in a drum full of freezing water. As the soldiers repeatedly pummel the man, they can be heard saying ‘my turn! My turn!’ and comparing his meat to animal flesh. Watching the video, I was reminded of the horror of my childhood, when I was forced to watch my uncle being tortured by Suharto’s thugs. The Indonesian government have committed these crimes for sixty years now. Indonesia must have their MSG Membership suspended immediately – they cannot be allowed to treat Melanesians in this way". The Peter Tatchell Foundation adds "Black West Papuans are subjected to racial slurs, jailed, tortured & murdered by the Indonesian army of occupation. Slow genocide for 60 years. Why aren't western anti-racists & black organisations protesting in solidarity? Our governments are complicit. Racism has many colours! Fight ALL racism!"
