West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda will be embarking on his first official overseas tour in February and March 2013. Having successfully fought to have an Interpol Red Notice against him removed, Benny is free to travel and more determined than ever to take the message of the West Papuan people around the world.
Benny will visit political leaders, lawyers, activists and supporters in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to build support and awareness of the campaign for self-determination for the people of West Papua.
Ahead of the tour, Benny Wenda spoke of his hopes that “it will further raise the voice of the West Papuan people whose cries for freedom and justice have been largely ignored by the international community for the last 50 years”.
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TOUR ITINERARY
USA (February 1st – 7th)
Benny will discuss the situation in West Papua with US Congress members in Washington DC. He will also visit the United Nations in New York, and meet organisations including Avaaz, Independent Diplomat, Witness and the Human Rights Foundation / Oslo Freedom Forum.
New Zealand (February 8th – 12th)
Travelling onto New Zealand, Benny will co-host a launch of International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) with Catherine Delahunty MP at the Parliament building in Wellington on February 12th.
Australia (February 13th – 25th)
In Australia, Benny and his lawyer Jennifer Robinson (co-founder of International Lawyers for West Papua) will host an event at Parliament House, Canberra on February 13th, attended by politicians and members of the legal fraternity.
Benny will also be visiting Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, as well as meeting with Aboriginal elders.
Melanesia (February 25th – March 10th)
Benny will also visit Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The tour will conclude in Papua New Guinea, where a Parliamentary event in the capital Port Moresby will see both Benny and Jennifer Robinson speak to parliamentarians and also meet with community leaders.
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Download media advisory document here
Media / interview requests:
Email: roadtofreedom@bennywenda.org
Benny Wenda will be travelling with his lawyer Jennifer Robinson and independent filmmaker Dominic Brown.
Tour updates:
Web: bennywenda.org
Twitter: @BennyWenda
19 comments
Harry Jenkinson says:
Jan 23, 2013
Very happy to see this Benny, congratulations and good luck if I don’t see you beforehand.
Everyone is behind you and I wish you bon voyage and the very best with your round the World tour on behalf of my family.
All the best,
Papua Merdeka!
Harry
Salmon M.Y. says:
Jan 23, 2013
I think this planned travel will help and Boost awarnes of our Papuan Stuggle for Freedom.I hope the more you Go, We could broaden our network orund the world. GBU.
Mac says:
Jan 24, 2013
Freedom is right for everyone,in this case, Papua need to be free from Indonesian Govt,
Fight our freedom.
Free is Us and free is the Land of the PARADISE-Melanesia race- West Half New guinea, PAPUA
Wa,wa.wa, tabea, telebe, nayak, lauk wa..wa
Yophi W says:
Jan 24, 2013
Goodluck and God bless you my brother. Free West Papua
Wiwince Pigome says:
Jan 24, 2013
can’t wait to welcome Benny in the land Aboriginal Australia…..:)
Peter Bang says:
Jan 24, 2013
SUPER! Very, very good – congratulations! Safe trip and good luck… All the best from here!
FREE WEST PAPUA!
WA WA WA WA
wp Freedom Tour announcement « West Papua Action Network says:
Jan 24, 2013
[...] http://bennywenda.org/2013/freedom-tour/ [...]
jurgen says:
Jan 25, 2013
I hope evething be fine with you. I hope peoples around the world can be hear about Papua. We will supports for it. Ours God never blind to see Papua Island. I think new generasions of Papua always suports for self determinatios cause that best solusions for Papua. Papua peoles never belife again with Jakarta cause many lieyer about everthing.
Free west Papua.
Mick says:
Jan 26, 2013
Is wonder elderbro…. Thanks this information. This infomarmation make us very happy. We hope God always bless and protect your travel in round the world. Indonesia people thinking imposible our selfdetermination but God shake and plane its posible.
Thanks God we belief that you give us freedom our mother land. We are say your are great father. Thanks again you manage our leader is Mr. Benny Wenda. We belief again that our fredom is caming soon.
Rosemary McKay says:
Jan 28, 2013
Greetings from Adelaide, South Australia, Benny
I think it is absolutely fantastic that you and Jennifer are making this freedom trip…….
“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
RK
I only wish the both of you were coming to Adelaide!
“May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet one of these days,and I hope we do,
may God hold you both in the palm of His hand.”
Traditional Gaelic Blessing
Papua Merdeka
Rosemary
Eston Ronsumbresaba says:
Feb 2, 2013
I’m extremely happy to know that by this time i knew that Mr. Benny is in New York state, i pray i could meet him since i’m still studying in New York state, i would ask permission from my professors to allow me go out for a while from college, if they allow me to come and meet with Mr. Benny firsthand, God bless my country West Papua.
love and support
Rochester,NY.
myland says:
Feb 3, 2013
People of West Papua Let’s stand up for fight and Free from this colonialism (INDONESIA)
Lord please listen to the cry our heart, calling out to you
Anoint make holy this land of ours,make us blessing to all the earth
Papua Land give glory unto your Name.
Benny You are in our prayer
GBU
Wenda Family
Tibal son says:
Feb 3, 2013
We know that The Truth Could not to being manipulate by deceit of world because The Truth is the Power of the Creator, event though West Papua People betrayed by International People but we know that the International people will by stand for the Justice of right to self determination for West Papua People.
Pleas we are human being who have the aware should be support the Cray to be free from New Colonial Indonesia. Wa.wa.wa. ( Thank You ) for Sport
Beth Goren says:
Feb 5, 2013
I feel so grateful to know that this man Benny Wenda, whom I met while visiting the people of Wamena/West Papua on an Art & Religion Fellowship, and who graciously played the bamboo mouth harp for me and helped translate the meanings of Dani songs I heard and recorded (even though heis of the Lanni)…I feel so grateful that someone of his integrity and experience is moving ahead to carry the people to freedom. When I was there, the militant approach was only just beginning. There was no blood-shed as much as there was infiltration by
police throughout the waterways watching, cautioning, setting their own laws in a land that was not truly theirs to govern. May All the Powers
that Be support you, Benny Wenda and may only Good Prevail throughout
endless time, and May All the People Feel Safe once Again the way it was when they followed their natural ways of their own ancestors. And May all the Ancestors Hold the Ones still Living in their whispering hearts from the other World and Give Benny and All Other Courageous Ones the Strength to Continue their Work on the Path of Freedom.
Bonny Kaiyo says:
Feb 5, 2013
The 1969 Act of Free Choice was carried out pursuant to a US-brokered 1962 agreement between the Netherlands and Indonesia that awarded control of what was then called West New Guinea to Jakarta subject to its agreement to carry out an election on self-determination, in which all adult Papuans were to be eligible to vote, no later than 1969. Once in control, however, Jakarta quickly moved to repress the independence movement. This is the truth about West Papua, that the freedom Papuans sought in 1969 was sabotaged but that same aspiration for freedom stood the test of time and scrutiny. The waves of self – determination are rocking the world again, and West Papua rides on the waves of that momentum as the countries seeking self – determination in Europe as well as outside European make and take issue before the UN.West Papua will be free because history will be rectified. West Papua will be free for another reason, that it is trendy today.
peyon says:
Feb 7, 2013
Tuhan Yesus terima kasih. Engkau Tuhan yang adil. Engkau telah memilih dan menyiapkan seorang anak negeri kami, Papua Barat. pemilik negeri ini. negeri yang Engkau ciptakan dengan penuh susu dan madu ini. diatas negeri ini Engkau telah tempatkan leluhur bangsa kami. kami adalah keturunan dari mereka. diantara kami Engkau telah memilih, seorang pemimpin bangsa kami. dia yang akan memimpin dan membawa kami dalam kebebasan kami seperti sedia kala. Pemimpin kini sudah tampil dan melakukan pekerjaanmu sesuai rencana-Mu. kami berdoa dan serahkan pemimpin kami yang Engkau pilih ini. Dalam FREEDOM TOUR keliling dunia. Sejak keluar dari UK, Amerika Serikat, Selandia Baru, Australia, Vanuatu, Salomon Islands, PNG hingga kembali ke UK. Engkau melindungi dan memberkati hamba-Mu ini, Tuan Benny Wenda, Ibu Robinson dan Tuan Brown. Terima kasih Tuhan Yesus. kami serah semuanya ke dalam tangan kasihmu. Amin.
Colette Nolan says:
Feb 7, 2013
Whoo hoo! Safe journey – you are in our hearts always. PAPUA MERDEKA Love Colette and Tim xx
danny says:
Feb 11, 2013
come to Ireland Benny you’d be more than welcome!!
PAPUA MERDEKA!!
Amyra says:
Feb 14, 2013
It’s a sad thing that you were not permitted to talk as planned at our Parliament Building in New Zealand. The important thing is though that you did get to speak. Keep up the good work and all the best in your endeavours. Arohanui.