Benny's story (as with all West Papuan people) is one mired in genocide, atrocities, racism and oppression.

 

Beginning in 1969 - after the declaration of Papuan sovereignty on the 1st December 1961, from Dutch rule - where a small group of Papuans were intimidated into voting for integration with Indonesia. This heinous exercise was named 'The Act of Free Choice' - the irony of which cannot be overstated.

 

Things continued to escalate into 1977 when the Indonesian military appeared in the remote highlands of West Papua, where the Lani people lived. Forcing their way into Benny's village, they upturned the relatively peaceful existence of the Lani. Military checks quickly became the norm. Women & children easy targets. Many women would be forced to bathe in the river before being raped in front of their children. Genital mutilation was rife. And so many would die due to the trauma & injuries suffered in these horrific attacks.

 

Benny lost 3 of his aunties this way.

 

The violence, racism, and enforced subservience seemed never-ending. So later that year, 15,000 Lani people rebelled against the military; and in response were met with aircraft bombings from the Indonesian government.

Those who could - fled to the jungle for safety. But with food & shelter very scarce, the frail & injured struggled to survive. A constant fear of the Indonesian military loomed over them, and attacks were common. Benny recalls a soldier ripping his 2-year-old cousin from his aunt, and throwing her to the ground - breaking her back. The soldier then raped his aunt and forced Benny to watch.

 

Eventually, his family was forced to surrender to ensure the children's safety. But integrating into Indonesian society was never really an option. Racism was palpable and very much the norm - the West Papuans were treated as a sub-class of people.

 

Growing up in Indonesia, Benny faced his fair share of adversity. And one jarring event after another compelled him to take up a leadership role within the Papuan community. His desire was simple: "to assert and celebrate Papuan identity, and to encourage other Papuans to do the same".

 

While at university, he initiated discussion groups amongst Papuans (of all ages & from all tribes). He searched for the truth behind the circumstances of West Papua's integration with Indonesia. But at a time where books on the topic were censored, and even openly using the words 'Papua' or 'West Papua' were forbidden - this was a challenging feat. His search in all public libraries proved useless and only through private discussions and stories was he able to discern the truth behind what happened.

 

Eventually, an opportunity arose.

 

1999 saw the end of Suharto, relaxation of military control and the independence of East Timor. These series of events created the right conditions for real change. They lit a spark, igniting the passions of the Papuan people and beginning the Papuan spring. Flag raisings and demonstrations overran Papua, as the nation's people demanded their own referendum on independence. The Presidium of Papuan Council (PDP) was formed to negotiate on behalf of Papuan nationalists and for their future. Benny became the leader of Demmak. A group established by tribal elders with the goal of the recognition and protection of the customs, values & beliefs of the tribal people of West Papua.

But as the political climate shifted, so to did their opportunity for independence. Megawati became president in July 2001, and - while only offering a compromised version of special autonomy - began to enforce the end of the Papuan spring. Military crackdowns on known 'separatists' crippled their movement and in November of that year, the leader of the PDP was assassinated by soldiers.

 

In the face of all this, Benny stayed true to Demmak's aim - full independence. And with political freedoms once again being tightened, this became ever more dangerous to support in the open. Human rights organisations later discovered that the PDP and Demmak were named as groups to be 'dealt with' by the government. And on 6 June 2002, Benny was arrested without charge, tortured and detained in solitary confinement for several months.

Finally, Benny was charged. Charged with an attack on a police station, inciting acts of violence and arson in relation to the 'Abepura incident' in December 2000. He looked to face 25 years. Yet Benny was not even in the country at the time of the apparent planning and execution of the attack.

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His trial began. And from the outset, it was clearly flawed. With his defence team refusing to give bribes to the judge or the prosecution, the judge became overtly biased and hostile. It was obvious that Benny wouldn't be receiving a fair trial. While in prison, Benny was repeatedly attacked by guards, and on the advice of his lawyer, he abstained from eating any of the food - at risk of poisoning. Rumours that the military intelligence was seeking to assassinate Benny were non-stop. And with a conviction or death, seemingly around the corner , Benny managed to escape the prison in October 2002.

 

With the help of the West Papuan independence activists and a European NGO, Benny was smuggled across the border to Papua New Guinea and was able to travel to England - where he has been granted political asylum.

Despite the overwhelming adversity he has faced, he has held onto his enduring belief that justice will prevail.

 

The 1st December is the anniversary of Papuan sovereignty from Dutch rule in 1961. Every year a global flag raising of the West Papuan flag is held in honour of this and to let the world know of their existence.