Octo Mote, West Papuan journalist and academic, visited Ireland from 18-21 February 2003. Mr. Mote addressed a public meeting in Dublin and met with politicians and government officials.

Currently in exile in the US, Mr. Mote is creating a Genocide Database and is also part of a team creating the Papua Resource Centre in New York. Mr. Mote’s visit was covered in The Irish Times on February 26, by Newstalk 106 and by Raidió na Life.

Frontline, Trócaire, Amnesty International, West Papua Action and Sustainable Ireland Cooperative will co-host a public meeting on “Globalisation and Genocide in West Papua” on Thursday May 22 2003 at 7.30pm in Cultivate, Temple Bar, 15- 19 Essex Street West, Dublin 8. Confirmed speakers: George Monbiot, Guardian journalist and author; leading West Papuan human rights activist John Rumbiak; founder of the UK-based Indonesia Human Rights Campaign (Tapol) and former political prisoner Carmel Budiardjo. All top-class speakers. Not to be missed! Booking Information: 01 8603431 / 674 6415 or wpaction@iol.ie

A series of vigils were held at the Dublin Netherlands Embassy to highlight the silence of the Dutch government since signing the New York Agreement on 15 August 1962.

The first vigil was held exactly 40 years later; a symbolic sit-down protest occurred inside the embassy, and after negotiations with the Ambassador broke down, the Gardaí arrested Mark Doris, Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, Treena Lenthall and Ciaron O’Reilly.

The Embassy later emailed West Papua Action to informed them that their letter of protest had been faxed to the Netherlands foreign minister that day.

Dr. John Saltford’s book The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua 1962-1969 was launched by former leader of the Progressive Democrats and former Irish Minister for Justice Desmond O’Malley on 19 November 2002, the anniversary of the passing of the last UN General Assembly resolution on West Papua. Mr. O’Malley’s speech can be read here. Copies of the book are available in the office for sale or loan. The launch was covered by The Irish Times and Dr. Saltford was interviewed on RTÉ’s Tonight with Vincent Browne.

West Papuan Fr. Neles Tebay, who visited Ireland in February 2002 returned later in the year to attend the War Resistors International Triennial meeting in Dublin from 3-9 August. Fr. Tebay addressed the plenary attended by delegates from all over the world, and also hosted a workshop at the meeting. On August 7, he addressed a public meeting in the city centre.

West Papuan traditional dance group Sampari visited Ireland to perform with The Hothouse Flower and West Papuan singer and activist Mr. Sem Karoba on March 21 2003 in Maynooth. The gig was coordinated by Piera and Ruairi and was a tremendous event with about 300 people enjoying the dance and song. On March 22, workshops on global activism, the international West Papua campaign, and women’s rights in West Papua were held.

In August 2002, according to The Irish Times of September 3, BP, which has invested in the Bintuni bay area of West Papua “lost out on a joint-bid with the Indonesian state- owned oil company Pertamina to supply $13.25 billion worth of liquid natural gas to China’s Shenzhen province. There were allegations that the Chinese gave the deal to Australia because of ongoing KKN - the Indonesian acronym for the endemic corruption, collusion and nepotism characteristic of the former Suharto dictatorship – and concerns over stability of supply.” BP is expected instead to supply gas to China’s Fujian province in a contract for 2.5 million metric tons of gas a year by 2006. Meanwhile in March 2003 former US senator and Irish peace-process talks chair Mr. George Mitchell (pictured) published a “international advisory panel” report commissioned by BP.

Over 75 organisations internationally now support calls on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to instigate a review of the UN’s conduct in relation to the discredited “Act of ‘Free’ Choice”, whereby 1,022 people were hand-picked and forced to declare at gunpoint their avowed desire to integrate with Indonesia. The Act was recently dismissed by the former UN Under-secretary General Chakravarthy Narasimhan who handled the takeover as a “whitewash”. West Papua Action is currently writing to all Irish TDs and MEPs to support the call, and is receiving a positive response to date.

A successful and fruitful planning meeting was held outside Portlaoise on February 8 2003. Many thanks to May and Brendan Fingleton for the hospitality.

Students in St. Angela’s, Waterford, Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, and Belvedere College, Dublin have all been active on West Papua in 2002/2003. Events are planned for May 1 2003: the 40th anniversary of the Indonesian takeover of West Papua. More at: http:// westpapuaaction.buz.org/students.htm or email studentsforwestpapua@yahoo.com

Pictured: Belvedere Students with drums and large petition on Grafton Street Dublin.

The wife and daughter of human rights activist Johannes Bonai were shot and wounded on December 28 2002. Bonai, the director of Elsham – West Papua’s leading human rights organization - and his family had been subjected to harassment and threats following an Elsham report that blamed Indonesian special forces for the Freeport killings. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Elsham’s deputy head, Aloysius Renwarin, said there was “no question” that the army was involved in the ambush. Threats against human rights defenders have increased in the last two years.

On trial before a military court, as opposed to a human rights court, are seven members of the Indonesian military special forces (Kopassus) in connection with the killing of the chair of the non-violent pro-independence Papua Presidium Council, Theys Eluay. The military prosecutors have called for two to three years imprisonment for the men, who have not been charged with murder. Their lawyer called them "heroes" and warned that punishing them would set a bad example for other soldiers in conflict zones. (Jakarta Post; Cendrawasih Pos)

West Papua Action is building up its library of books, music CDs, videos and periodicals. Sounds like Freedom: Sounds and Songs from West Papua is on sale at €10.00.

On December 1 2002 Papuan leader Thom Beanal declared Papua as a Zone of Peace. This has now taken root as a powerful idea throughout West Papua. The goal includes the immediate withdrawal of all non-organic combat troops from the territory. (Jakarta Post, Dec. 17)

Plans are well under way for both the Fourth International Solidarity Meeting in New Zealand; and a European solidarity meeting in Brussels in June. The New Zealand meeting will coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum meeting due to be held in August.

The Government of Vanuatu has welcomed the setting up of a West Papuan People's Representative Office in its capital Port Vila on March 26, 2003. Despite protests from Indonesia and threats to downgrade its diplomatic and trading ties with the Pacific country, Vanuatu’s Vice-President Serge Vohor has defended the decision: "No money in the world can buy off our right to speak out against injustice and the right of self- determination of oppressed indigenous people," he said.

The West Papua Forum now meets monthly on the first Wednesday of each month in Dublin. All members and supporters very welcome. The May meeting is on Wed. 7 May at 6.30pm in Belvedere College, Dublin 1. Contact the office to receive further notices.

If you haven’t already done so, please consider joining West Papua Action. You will receive four issues of West Papua News, notice of events, and will strengthen the campaign for human rights and self-determination in West Papua. Send €10.00 (€5 concession) to 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7 with name and contact details (2003 rates).