Free West Papua
January 18, 2021
Following the announcement of a Provisional Government of West Papua and rejection of Jakarta’s “Special Autonomy” renewal, the Indonesian state has pursued its strategy of aggressive arrests and violence against peaceful demonstrations for independence.
ULMWP Chair Benny Wenda was named interim President of the Provisional Government on December 1, 2020, as the Papuan people roundly rejected renewal of the failed 2001 Special Autonomy law.
Highlighting the vast resources the Indonesian state is dedicating to crushing dissent over renewal of ‘Special Autonomy’ across West Papua, a large convoy of heavily-armed police vehicles was photographed heading toward demonstrations in Manokwari on January 11, 2021.