27/11/2000

Today, 17 supporters of West Papua symbolically flew a large model Hawk jet past the Indonesian Embassy in Grosvenor Square. We also raised the outlawed West Papuan “Morning Star” flag in front of the Embassy in solidarity for the 1 million Papuans who are threatened to be massacred whilst defending their flag in the troubled Indonesian province on December 1st. British made Hawk jets were recently used to intimidate Papuans during a massacre in the highland town of Wamena in which more than 40 people died as a result of the Indonesian police shooting into an unarmed crowd who were trying to defend the flag. Britain is currently exporting the final 6 Hawk jets to Indonesia!

We also handed in postcards and a letter to the Indonesian Ambassador. The day was a great success, thank you to everyone who came, in particularly Martin and Richard from Campaign Against the Arms Trade for bringing the large model Hawk jet.

Today was the start of an increase in activity by activists for West Papua. The issue is becoming more and more international and well known and we told the embassy that “we will not go away”. To find out more about West Papua please visit www.koteka.net (and join in on the mailing lists there) or www.westpapua.net . To get more directly involved in campaigning please contact  mike@koteka.net