The Freedom Flotilla’s flagship the Pog is set to sail for West Papua
on this morning’s tide. A military buildup in the Flotilla’s
destination port of Merauke has been confirmed, with 2500 troops having
arrived on the 28th of August to bolster numbers at the Indonesian border.
Undeterred, the core crew of activists have committed themselves to
carrying out their peaceful mission to conduct a ceremony sharing the
Sacred Waters from the mound springs of Lake Eyre, and the ashes of
Sacred Fires from Aboriginal Tent Embassies across Australia.
The additional troops are suspected to have been deployed to crack
down on a welcome ceremonies planned for the Freedom Flotilla. Locals
from across Merauke district gathered on the 28th of August
as the military reinforcements sailed into harbour, preparing garlands
of flowers to welcome the Indigenous elders and crew to their land.
On the same day, four organisers of a congregation held in Sorong to pray for the safety of the Freedom Flotilla were arrested and charged with treason.
Indonesian Navy Patrol boats have also been photographed and sighted patrolling the Indonesian border.
The Freedom Flotilla has decided to sail directly to Merauke, rather
than via the PNG port of Daru. Locals in Daru have reported Australian
Defence Force personnel arriving in the past weeks, with pictures
confirming 7 zodiacs and 21 personnel arriving in a Hercules aircraft.
Fisherman also reported the presence of a Australian Navy vessel near
the maritime border. A Papua New Guinea Defence Force helicopter was
also sighted circling the island. Freedom Flotilla organiser Ronny
Kareni said “the sudden military presence is highly unusual, it
surprised and terrified the villagers on the island who had been
organising for a peaceful welcome.”
Australia’s incoming foreign minister Julie Bishop, has stated that
the Indonesian military may do “whatever it wishes” against the Freedom
Flotilla. The Indonesian military has not ruled out the use of lethal
force. Greens Senator Richard di Natale accused the new minister of
inciting military action against peaceful protest in the Guardian on the 5th of September. He stated that her comments were “not befitting somebody who is likely to become the next foreign minister.”
Izzy Brown stated on the freedomflotillawestpapua.org ‘Pogcast’
(8/9/13) that now the “worse of two evils” had won the Australian
election, there was “all the more reason to challenge both the
Australian and the Indonesian Governments jurisdiction over these
waterways.”
The Flotilla expects to arrive at the Indonesian border in the two to five days.
Sumber : www.freedomflotillawestpapua.org
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