get involved in the West Papua cause

well i met up with the guy who runs the west-papua organisation here and we had a really long chat. i found out the org in my state was only started last year and that they really need people. there’s tons i can do to really help. i’m quite excited to finally get moving and also sombered that what we’re working towards (self-determination for west papuans) is at this stage so far-off and distant.

i also found out that the indo government has people actually spying on some activists here, this was so wierd i mean, this is australia, this is the most isolated city in the world, it’s full of mums and dads and pets and surburbia, nothing like that ever happens here, but appraently it does.

anway, i plan on writing an article for the student mag before i go to PNG for election experiencing and on my return have stalls at uni and expand from there.

i’m finally achieving this goal but until i do more it stays on the list

i wrote a paper on Indonesian government policies regarding West Papaua & Aceh pre and post-Suharto and this got me on to actually joining up to an org. I found a website for the free west papua movement in my part of Aus and they’ve sent me a membership form, so i’m going to send that off and see what i can do. For any interested persons check out:
http://www.koteka.net/
http://www.freewestpapua.org/
http://www.freewestpapua.com.au/
http://www.eco-action.org/ssp/
http://www.westpapua.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_New_Guinea

My cousin is very involved in this. She’s only a year older then me but already she is heavily involved in things like this which I think is amazing. It’s kind of sad that though PNG neighbours West Papua and we have very similar cultures, the West Papua cause is not even an ‘issue’ in PNG. People just aren’t involved or willing to get involved in it. Plus the few that are I suppose, are under close surveillance & can’t afford to be too outspoken on the issue. I should really contact her & see how I can involve myself!