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| Tuan Jeckom Rumbiak |
Despite claims published by Indonesian website merdeka.com that the Freedom Flotilla is
not proceeding, Freedom Flotilla co-founders, Jacob Rumbiak,
Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and Izzy Brown today asserted
collectively they are, “More determined than ever, to make
this historic journey to West Papua”.
In a passionate
affirmation of the Freedom Flotilla’s determination to
proceed to West Papua, co-founder Jacob Rumbiak said this
morning, “Our land is calling us. We never stop. Our
Spirit land is calling us”.
The Freedom Flotilla to West
Papua arrived at port in Cooktown at 7.45am today to a fan
fare welcome by locals and indigenous elders. The sea
journey is now well underway and the Freedom Flotilla will
depart Cooktown at 11am Saturday the 24th of August on the
high tide.
“We’re still going. Others are passing out
propaganda but they should sit down and talk to us. Our
ceremony will continue outright. We’re going all the
way”, said Uncle Kevin Buzzacott.
Foreign Affairs
Minister Bob Carr stated in a media release, “the Flotilla were also
perpetrating a cruel hoax on the people of the Papuan
provinces, by suggesting that Papuan independence was on the
international agenda." Clearly this is a significant
International issue and the Freedom Flotilla is generating
great waves of support for a Free West Papua, with
journalists reporting on the epic journey to date in
Malaysia, Fiji, New Zealand, PNG, Indonesia, the
Netherlands, all Australian states and now the US and
Ghana.
Uncle Judulu Neal, a Yarrabah elder travelling on
the Freedom Flotilla made the following statement today,
“We are very concerned about what is happening in West
Papua because we have ancient agreements between The Bow and
Arrow People and the Woomera people.”
“We need to look
at a dialogue between us and Indonesia and Australian
governments. We come in peace we invite them to come to
Thursday Island to sit down and talk, our traditional
trading roots have been cut off. We are talking about
International law”.
“We have agreement made with The
Bow and Arrow People that date back before any of these
artificial borders were created. We follow the ancient
treaty made by Kuyulum. This is the first International
Treaty and it needs to be recognised. That agreement shows
the sovereignty of the people of West Papua.”
“We also
want to bring to light that the Woomera Nation and The Bow
and Arrow People are being prohibited from expressing our
spirituality”.
“The Australian police put out our
sacred fire in Brisbane and now we are being threatened by
Indonesian “jet fighters” and “warships” while we
are undertaking this ceremony of cultural reunion. We need
to unite our nations in the face of this repression and
stand strong as indigenous people”, he
concluded.
Foto - Foto
Sumber : www.scoop.co.nz
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