The Penis Gourd Peoples Assembly - Council: DEMMAK
Political Statement
April 2001
We, DEMMAK, would like to state the following; A report from those that have sought refugee and have crossed, out of desperation, over the border into Papua New Guinea [PNG]. Concerning the matter of our onetime leader, Matius Wenda and his incarceration in C.I.S Boram Wewe. We appeal to the world, Amnesty International and all concern individuals and groups, to apply pressure on the government of PNG for his safe release. The potential for his extradition to Indonesia is very real, we feel, which would surely mean his execution at the hands of the Indonesians.
Concerning ourselves, the remaining refugees, we shall only feel able to return to our homeland in west Papua, when and ONLY when the Indonesians have returned to Jakarta, or their land and we have been given our rightful independence. We never did and certainly no longer wish to have our land run by anyone and least of all Indonesia. They must leave NOW because all good people know that we really should have been given our independence, like our brothers here in PNG, decades ago, for us it has been in our hearts, that we have been independent since 1961. But at war with Indonesia during the same time. We the refugees from west Papua, in PNG, would like to again, inform the international community and all concerned groups and individuals, what is the real reasons behind our fleeing to PNG. It is because Indonesia want to have us all killed, mainly with guns.
The indonesian army has plans to kill off the highland population, using several methods like; brutal intimidation, kidnapping, secret killing and disappearing groups and individuals, by arresting people in the night taking them away never to be seen again. We have witnessed this for many years. Also, due to the fact that indonesia has and is raping the Papuan landscape, stealing without compensation all of the Papuan natural resources, without any consultation, or benefit for us, going to our people. It is our motherland! Since the four waves of Papuan refugees, which started in 1971, through 1978, 1984 and 2000, we would like to invite the world and Indonesia to take a serious look at our genuine claim for self determination. Signed on behalf of the Papuan refugees in PNG.
Secretary General: DEMMAK Policy co-ordinator for the OPM/TPN
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