We Want Freedom! »

My name is Benny Wenda and I am a West Papuan independence leader.

When I was a child my village was bombed by the Indonesian military and many of my family were killed. Later, I began to campaign peacefully to free my country from Indonesian occupation. For this ‘crime’ I was arrested, tortured and threatened with death.

I managed to escape to the UK, where I now live in exile. My people are still suffering. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, raped and tortured. All we want is to live without fear and for West Papua to become a free and independent country.

Please hear my peoples’ cry for help. Please support the Free West Papua Campaign.

Read Benny's story »

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What’s Happening? »

Indonesian security forces have committed gross human rights abuses against the indigenous Papuans, with over 500,000 civilians killed to date.

"The suffering of West Papuans is seldom reported. The Indonesian government bans foreign journalists and human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, from the hauntingly beautiful territory. East Timor slipped Suharto’s leash and is now free, thanks to the resilience of its people and an international network. The people of West Papua deserve nothing less."

John Pilger

John Pilger

Journalist & documentary filmmaker

Where is West Papua? »

West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea, just 200 km north of Australia.