Free West Papua Campaing: Newsletter 2008

Dear friend of West Papua

THANK YOU!

We thank you first for all the messages of support from around the world
surrounding the recent launch of the International Parliamentarians for West
Papua. The launch took place in the Houses of Parliament, London on 15th October, and
laid down the foundations towards international action against the continuing
illegal occupation of West Papua by Indonesia. A new website will shortly be
launched giving regularly updated information on developments with the
International Parliamentarians for West Papua.


NEWS UPDATE


Since the launch of the International Parliamentarians in London, thousands of
West Papuans have been staging regular demonstrations in West Papua calling for
their freedom and for the international community to act. Indonesia's response
has been to send over 10,000 more troops to West Papua in an attempt to
suppress and intimidate West Papuans.

This is a crucial time in West Papua's history. Please contact your local or
national news organisation asking them to give coverage to the unfolding events
there. (contacts for UK media organisations are at the bottom of this email)


INDONESIAN EMBASSY DEMO

1st December is West Papua independence day; the day West Papua was granted its
independence by the Dutch following the end of their colonial rule, and before
Indonesia invaded.


In London we will be holding a vigil outside the Indonesian Embassy from midday
on Monday 1st December. Later in the afternoon we will also be visiting the
headquarters of Rio Tinto and BP, whose plants continue to cause widespread
environmental and human destruction in West Papua. Please come and join exiled
independence leader Benny Wenda and other supporters as we celebrate the spirit
of the Papuan people on this day in their struggle for freedom.


For those of you in other parts of the world, please show your solidarity with
an embassy vigil outside the Indonesian Embassy in the country that you live
in.


THE LANI SINGERS

Benny and Maria Wenda (The Lani Singers) release their debut album 'Ninalik
Ndawi' on 10th November. Deeply emotive, their songs are rooted in the sacred
rituals of the Lani tribe, from the highland region of West Papua. The songs
also embody a powerful modern day message of their peoples struggle for
freedom.

Benny and Maria will be doing a live session and interview on the 'World In
London' show on BBC Radio London on 8th November, following on from session
they performed on BBC Radio 3 last month.

To order the album click here http://dancingturtle.co.uk/shop/lanisingers.php


Once again, thanks for your continued support of the campaign. Huge strides are
being made in West Papua's journey towards freedom. It is through the support
of our grassroots supporters that this campaign continues to grow and evolve so
rapidly.


PAPUA MERDEKA! FREE WEST PAPUA!


Free West Papua Campaign

PO Box 656

Oxford

UK

OX3 3AP



The Guardian

letters@guardian.co.uk,

The Editor, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER.

foreign@guardian.co.uk


************************************************

The Times

letters@the-times.co.uk



The Editor, The Times, 1, Pennington Street, LONDON E98 1XY

foreign.news@thetimes.co.uk



editor@the-times.co.uk



*******************************************************

The Independent



letters@independent.co.uk



The Editor, The Independent, Independent House, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS.


* News Desk - newseditor@independent.co.uk

* Foreign Desk - foreigneditor@independent.co.uk

* Features - features@independent.co.uk

* Business & City - businessdesk@independent.co.uk

editor@independent.co.uk,


**********************************************************

The Daily Telegraph



dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

The Editor, The Daily Telegraph, 111, Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT

dtnews@telegraph.co.uk


***********************************************************


And here are some key British TV & Radio news e-mail addresses:


BBC:


BBC Indonesia correspondent: lucy.williamson@bbc.co.uk

BBC Asia correspondent: Andrew.harding@bbc.co.uk


newsonline@bbc.co.uk, pm@bbc.co.uk, today@bbc.co.uk, pm@bbc.co.uk,
john.simpson@bbc.co.uk, World.Tonight@bbc.co.uk,

worldservice@bbc.co.uk,


ITN / Channel 4 News:


ITN Asia correspondent: ian.williams@itn.co.uk


c4foreign@itn.co.uk, jon.snow@itn.co.uk, editor@itn.co.uk, news@channel4.co