Freedom Flotilla evades Indonesian military

West Papuans have welcomed the arrival of human rights activists, musicians and artists aboard the West Papua Freedom Flotilla, despite a close watch from the Indonesian military. A planned welcome was initially interrupted when the head of police and five intelligence officers hand-delivered a letter to the organisers prohibiting any ceremonies taking place. In the end, members of the flotilla managed to perform their planned ceremony at an undisclosed location where Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott presented sacred water and ashes to West Papuan leaders to reunite the cultures of the two indigenous peoples.

This article was written by

Kiery Manassah

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