TARGET: indo embassy, London ~ 2002

The Indonesian Embassy in London got a facelift by activists drawing attention to the campaign of terror the Indonesian military and government has been waging in West Papua. Before the embassy officials arrived for work the main entrance was decorated with a banner reading "INDONESIA TERRORIST STATE" and placards in memory of the murdered Papuan leader Theys Eluay and in solidarity with the imprisoned Papuan leader Benny Wenda. As the officials arrived they were given leaflets by activists asking them to take immediate action to halt the worsening crisis in west Papua. They were asked to tell the Indonesian government to release Benny Wenda and guarantee his safety, conduct a proper investigation into the deaths of two independence leaders Theys Eluay and Yafet Yelemakers and to remove the threat of Laskar Jihad currently operating in West Papua. The officials were spoken to in Indonesian and a loud cry of "Papua Merdeka" was shouted every time the door was opened. At 10am one of the demonstrators went to deliver a letter outlining the reasons for the action and asking for responses on the above issues. Despite having made an appointment the consular declined to see anyone and sent someone out who would answer no questions and just wanted to snatch the letter and run back inside. Not more than two weeks after the disruption of the Indonesian President's visit to Tony Blair, this further action in London got the embassy officials fuming and wondering what will come next. We are waiting for their response but plan to keep the pressure on. This action was done in solidarity with the Papuan students who are on hunger strike outside Komnas HAM in Jakarta asking for a proper investigation into the death of Theys Eluay.