Benny Wenda
Encyclopedia
Benny Wenda is a West Papuan tribal leader and an international lobbyist for the independence
of West Papua from Indonesia
. He lives in exile in the United Kingdom
. In 2002 he was granted political asylum by the British government following his escape from custody while on trial.
He is a leading figure on the international scene for the independence movement of West Papua and has been a special guest in the British Parliament, United Nations and European Parliament as a representative of the Papuan people.
in the central highlands of West Papua. In 1977, when he was two years old, the Indonesian military undertook aerial bombing raids over the highlands and most of Benny's family were killed. He was subsequently raised by an uncle. Wenda was appointed leader from the elders in his tribe. He attended university, in Jayapura
, studying Sociology & Geo-Politics.
. Demmak was established by highland tribal elders with the goal of working towards recognition and protection of the customs, values and beliefs of the tribal people of the West Papuan Highlands. It advocates independence from Indonesia, and rejects special autonomy or any other political compromise offered by the Indonesian government. As Secretary-General of Demmak, Wenda represented the council of elders. The organisation supported PDP negotiations with Jakarta to the extent that they represented the aspiration of the Papuan peoples
, which they claimed was independence from Indonesia.
Wenda escaped prison while on trial. Helped by West Papua independence activists he was smuggled across the border to neighbouring Papua New Guinea
. He was later reunited with his wife Maria at a refugee camp. Several months after this he was helped by a European NGO to travel to the UK where he was granted political asylum.
. The Free West Papua Campaign movement in the UK has grown to include permanent student groups at British universities and regional groups.
. This cross-parliamentary group was launched at the Houses Of Parliament in London in October 2008, and was attended by British parliamentarians including Lembit Öpik
and Baron Avebury
, as well as politicians from Papua New Guinea, Australia and Vanuatu.
The group is actively developing support from politicians around the world, and its overall aim is to assert enough political pressure on the United Nations
to implement a re-run of the Act of Free Choice
. As well as the UK launch, IPWP has also had launch events in the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament and also Papua New Guinea.
in South America. The aim of this group is to develop a framework within the international legal community towards outlining the legal basis for West Papuan self-determination, and the "illegality" of the Indonesian "occupation of West Papua".
The launch of International Lawyers for West Papua coincided with Guyana stating their support for West Papuan independence.
. In 2008 they released their debut album. Entitled 'Ninalik Ndawi' (Freedom Song), it received reviews in national newspapers including the Guardian and Observer, and music magazines fRoots, Songlines and the Wire. They also did interviews and live sessions on 'World Routes' on BBC Radio 3 and 'A World In London' BBC Radio London. They have also performed at Musicport Festival, Glastonbury Festival and the Thames Festival in London.
with their six children.
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
of West Papua from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. He lives in exile in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 2002 he was granted political asylum by the British government following his escape from custody while on trial.
He is a leading figure on the international scene for the independence movement of West Papua and has been a special guest in the British Parliament, United Nations and European Parliament as a representative of the Papuan people.
Early life
Benny was born in Pyramid Village in the Baliem ValleyBaliem Valley
The Baliem Valley, also spelled Balim Valley and sometimes known as the Grand Valley, of the highlands of Western New Guinea, is occupied by the Dani people. The main town in the valley is Wamena...
in the central highlands of West Papua. In 1977, when he was two years old, the Indonesian military undertook aerial bombing raids over the highlands and most of Benny's family were killed. He was subsequently raised by an uncle. Wenda was appointed leader from the elders in his tribe. He attended university, in Jayapura
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, studying Sociology & Geo-Politics.
Political leadership
After leaving university, Wenda became Secretary-General of Demmak (Dewan Musyawarah Masyarakat Koteka), the Koteka Tribal AssemblyKoteka Tribal Assembly
The Koteka Tribal Assembly The Koteka Tribal Assembly is a cultural organisation of the Koteka tribes of Papua. It was established in January 2000 as an outcome of discussions among the elders of several tribes in the highlands of West Papua...
. Demmak was established by highland tribal elders with the goal of working towards recognition and protection of the customs, values and beliefs of the tribal people of the West Papuan Highlands. It advocates independence from Indonesia, and rejects special autonomy or any other political compromise offered by the Indonesian government. As Secretary-General of Demmak, Wenda represented the council of elders. The organisation supported PDP negotiations with Jakarta to the extent that they represented the aspiration of the Papuan peoples
Papuan peoples
Papuan is a cover term for the various indigenous peoples of New Guinea and neighboring islands, speakers of so-called Papuan languages. They are often distinguished linguistically from Austronesians, speakers of a language family introduced into New Guinea about three thousand years ago, but this...
, which they claimed was independence from Indonesia.
Imprisonment
Wenda was taken into custody in 2002 for allegedly leading a procession of people who made a violent attack in Aberpura, torching two shops and killing a policeman. Wenda maintains that his arrest and the charges against him were politically motivated, coming at a time when authorities were clamping down on leaders of the independence movement. This clampdown had led to the assassination a few months earlier of the leading pro-independence figure Theys Eluay. Media reports state that Wenda was facing a 25 year jail sentence if found guilty. He was also allegedly subjected to death threats whilst being held in custody.Wenda escaped prison while on trial. Helped by West Papua independence activists he was smuggled across the border to neighbouring Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. He was later reunited with his wife Maria at a refugee camp. Several months after this he was helped by a European NGO to travel to the UK where he was granted political asylum.
Free West Papua Campaign
After arriving in the United Kingdom, Benny set up the Free West Papua Campaign. The campaign's stated aims are to spread awareness of the human rights situation in Western New Guinea and the independence of West Papua, through lobbying governments and developing support throughout civil societyCivil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
. The Free West Papua Campaign movement in the UK has grown to include permanent student groups at British universities and regional groups.
International Parliamentarians for West Papua
With British MP Andrew Smith and the peer Lord Harries, Benny Wenda is a founding member of the International Parliamentarians for West PapuaInternational Parliamentarians for West Papua
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua are a cross-party political group of politicians from around the world who support self-determination for the people of West Papua.-History:...
. This cross-parliamentary group was launched at the Houses Of Parliament in London in October 2008, and was attended by British parliamentarians including Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 General Election...
and Baron Avebury
Baron Avebury
Baron Avebury, of Avebury in the County of Wiltshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1900 for the banker, politician and archaeologist Sir John Lubbock, 4th Baronet. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Baron. On his death the titles passed to his...
, as well as politicians from Papua New Guinea, Australia and Vanuatu.
The group is actively developing support from politicians around the world, and its overall aim is to assert enough political pressure on the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to implement a re-run of the Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice
Act of Free Choice was an event in July to August 1969 by which Indonesia asserts that the Western New Guinea population decided to relinquish their sovereignty in favor of Indonesian citizenship...
. As well as the UK launch, IPWP has also had launch events in the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament and also Papua New Guinea.
International Lawyers for West Papua
In April 2009, Benny Wenda launched the International Lawyers for West Papua. The launch saw a series of high level meetings held by international lawyers in GuyanaGuyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
in South America. The aim of this group is to develop a framework within the international legal community towards outlining the legal basis for West Papuan self-determination, and the "illegality" of the Indonesian "occupation of West Papua".
The launch of International Lawyers for West Papua coincided with Guyana stating their support for West Papuan independence.
The Lani Singers
Benny and his wife Maria perform traditional West Papuan music as The Lani SingersThe Lani Singers
The Lani Singers are husband and wife, Benny and Maria Wenda. They come from the Baliem Valley in the remote central highland region of West Papua in the south-west Pacific, and play songs that are rooted in the sacred rituals of the Lani tribe...
. In 2008 they released their debut album. Entitled 'Ninalik Ndawi' (Freedom Song), it received reviews in national newspapers including the Guardian and Observer, and music magazines fRoots, Songlines and the Wire. They also did interviews and live sessions on 'World Routes' on BBC Radio 3 and 'A World In London' BBC Radio London. They have also performed at Musicport Festival, Glastonbury Festival and the Thames Festival in London.
Family life
Benny and Maria met while studying in West Papua, and have been married since 1999. Since being granted political asylum by the British Government they have lived in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
with their six children.