Tribal leader highlights plight of West Papuan people

April 20, 2012

An exiled campaigner will make a rare appearance in Scotland tomorrow.

Benny Wenda, a West Papuan tribal leader who escaped from an Indonesian military prison after being sentenced for his role in organising pro-independence demonstrations, will speak at Teviot Underground, Edinburgh University, tomorrow at 7.30pm Source

The free event is being organised by a new campaign group, Free West Papua Edinburgh.

Tom Kirby, a member of the group, said: “Benny came to stay with my family when he first arrived in the UK. It was in winter and he didn’t speak a word of English.

“Now he travels all over the UK, trying to get as many people as possible to hear his people’s story.