President Wenda: Indonesia is lying about the death of New Zealand pilot

August 16, 2024

As President of the ULMWP and on behalf of the people of West Papua, I am calling on the world to pay attention to the firm denial by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) that they killed the New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning. I again mourn his tragic death and all for the Indonesian military in order for the bloodshed to end.

Speaking in the Lani language, the language of my tribe, a TPNPB Deputy Commander explains that Mr. Conning’s death was caused directly by the Indonesian military. Speaking in Bahasa Indonesian, TPNPB commander Egianus Kogoya then accuses the Indonesian government and military of murdering Mr. Conning. They are surrounded by TPNPB representatives from the Ilaga, Intan Jaya, and Nduga and Regions. This is a clear denial of responsibility and an assertion that Indonesia was behind the attack. It cannot be ignored by the world.

I demand that Indonesia open a full independent investigation of the killing, in coordination with the UN and the New Zealand government. Any internal investigation will be a whitewash, full of lies, claiming TPNPB responsibility and beginning a new round of bloody military operations in the highlands. It is time for Indonesia to end their six-decade blackout and open West Papua to the eyes of the world: to allow the UN, international media, and NGOs to report from West Papua without intimidation or restriction.

I condemn the Indonesian government for their lies. This killing was always highly suspicious, as it took place only two days after the TPNPB unilaterally announced they would release the kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens. Our enemy is not New Zealand or any foreign nation. It is the Indonesian coloniser, who has committed genocide and ecocide against our people and our forest for sixty-two years. I again welcome the TPNPB’s announcement about Phillip Mehrtens and urge his safe release as soon as possible. There must be no more bloodshed on Papuan land.

Indonesia’s lies are a reminder to the people of West Papua not to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day on August 17th. This is not our Independence Day: our Independence Day is December 1st, when we inaugurated our government, our Morning Star flag, and our national anthem. We do not want to raise the Indonesian flag: under this flag, hundreds of thousands of our men, women, and children have been killed. We do not want to sing the Indonesian anthem, the soundtrack to our genocide.

To all West Papuans, whether you are in the bush, the refugee camps, or the cities, where for propaganda purposes the Indonesian military will attempt to force Papuan engagement in the celebrations, I ask that you boycott Indonesian Independence Day. Through the ULMWP you have a constitution, a President, and a Provisional Government ready to run our country. We are reclaiming the sovereignty that was stolen from us.

Benny Wenda
President
ULMWP