Czech MPs sign the International Parliamentarians for West Papua declaration
fPcN Press Release
*** Launch of a new Free West Papua campaign NGO ***
*** Czech MPs sign the International Parliamentarians for West Papua declaration ***
Friday 15th May 2009, fPcN interCultural assisted in the creation of another Free West Papua campaign NGO: www.freewestpapua.cz in the Czech Republic, at the Native & Indigenous Film Festival (naiff) www.naiff.eu along with: United World of Indigenous Peoples (UWIP) www.uwip.org an fPcN interCultural member NGO.
West Papua Report - May 2009
Contents:
* West Papua Advocacy Tam member Octo Mote spoke before the U.S. Congressional human rights commission regarding threats to the environment and human rights in West Papua
* ETAN and WPAT fault as insufficient Secretary Clinton's call for "a degree of autonomy" for West Papua*
* Repression and violence in West Papua escalates dramatically in April
* U.S.-based human rights groups call for an investigation of the violence and for dialogue
* Papuan clergy and civil society leaders also call for investigation of the violence
Brazil: Missionaries want law to legalize child theft from indigenous people (protest campaign)
”Experts put the Problems of natives, above all the wide-spread alcoholism, outbreaks of violence and incest, down to the injustice suffered over generations in boarding schools.” (sh/dpa/Reuters)
There seems to be no learning progress in Christian missions up to this day, undeterred, they still continue their criminal craft against indigenous peoples. The Christian-American sect “Youth with a Mission” in Brazil has now tabled a draft law, which is to allow the stealing of children from indigenous families by the state.
International Native and Indigenous Film Festival - fPcN organised
An International non governmental organisation UWIP (a member of fPcN Global), together with the Masaryk University and Moravian City Museum is preparing a film festival Native and Indigenous Film Fest (NAIFF). The aim of the festival is to introduce today's life of indigenous peoples in different parts of the Earth to the wide public and thus reinforce the public's interest in indigenous issues.
The film screening will be interlaced with lectures of indigenous issues experts, discussions with film directors and the launch of The Free West Papua Campaign in Czech Republic.
Our film „West Papua – The secret war in Asia“ has been pre-selected by the New York and Los Angeles Short Film Festival. After his premiere at the Venice Biennale in 2007 (Radio New Zeeland), 2008 Origins First Nation Film Festival and Riverside Studios the film will be also shown at the Native and Indigenous Film Festival in Brno/Czech Republic.
During the festival the film "Land of Thorns" will also be shown. The film was made from the french NGO ACTED (EU sponsorship) in cooperation with fPcN Germany to rise awareness (Campaign) for pastoralists in Africa.
Tanzania: Hadzabe face new challenges
"After our victory over UAE Safaris Ltd with the powerfull campaign of fPcN interCultural and fPcN Germany, we are now very concerned that Tanzanian investors are moving into the Hadzabe lands and suspect that the Arab safari company might be trying to come in again through the back door. We urgently need help to publicise the plight of the Hadzabe people and our fight to gain legal title to our lands, so that in the future they are respected as traditional Hadza hunting reserves." (Naftali Kitandu, April 2009)
The Hadzabe community members of Yaeda China valley have called on the government to put more efforts in controlling poaching in their traditional hunting homelands. Their speakers, Mahiya Makala, Reuben Matayo and Sati Salibogo who were speaking at a public meeting at Domanga and Ashkesh at Mongo wa Mono village said the poachers have been invading the valley with modern firearms especially at night. They said their only hope was in the government to fight poachers in the area as their activities are dangerous to the eco-system that supports communities which depend on the wild for their survival.
West Papua: English activist and presentation kit download
With this being such a crucial year for West Papua, we have put
together a West Papua activist kit that people around the world can
download from their computers and take action to spread awareness
about the ongoing atrocities an crimes against humanity being
committed by the Indonesian authorities in West Papua, as well as
developing support for the Papuans right to self-determination.
The kit includes pint ready posters and flyers.
Human rights lawyers pressing for West Papua self determination
The International Lawyers for West Papua (www.ILWP.org) formally launched in Guyana on Friday to continue its efforts to help West Papua to “exercise peacefully their fundamental human rights and the freedoms guaranteed by international law.”
In a press release the group which comprises a network of international lawyers, said it launched here at the request of the West Papuans in recognition of Guyana’s support of its “freedom and self-determination” 40 years ago. Guyana is also recognised internationally for the progress made in settling land rights and respecting the self-determination of Amerindian peoples.
Brazilian court ruling backs Amazon reservation
Brazil's Supreme Court sided Thursday with Amazonian Indians in a land dispute that some have called critical for determining the future of the rainforest that sprawls the size of Western Europe.
The court ruling upholds the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation for 18,000 Indians who lay claim to their ancestral land, despite a handful of large-scale farmers who also occupy the territory in the northernmost reaches of Amazon jungle bordering Venezuela.
BBC News broadcasts undercover report on West Papua independence struggle
The BBC have broadcast a special report on the West Papua independence struggle, using footage filmed undercover and without the knowledge or authority of the Indonesian government.
It includes interviews with human rights victims and independence fighters including OPM leader General Goliath Tabuni
The report can be watched by clicking here
