On 30th May rallies were held all over West Papua to show support for West Papua joining the subregional Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) through the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). Up to 82 West Papuans were arrested and many were tortured by the Indonesian authorities. For more information, please see the Free West Papua Campaign Press Release and West Papua independence leader Benny Wenda’s statement.

The West Papuan people want to show the leaders of the Melanesian countries as well as people all around the world that they are Melanesian and that they want to come back to the Melanesian family of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Despite the risks, they continue to protest and rally together on the streets to ask for full MSG membership and freedom for West Papua.

Here are some photos from various rallies and responses by the Indonesian authorities in the West Papuan towns of Port Numbay/Jayapura, Sentani, Timika, Nabire, Sorong, Yahukimo and Wamena, and in the Indonesian towns of Manado and Yogyakarta.

Port Numbay/Jayapura

Sentani

Timika

Nabire

Sorong

Yahukimo

Wamena

Manado

Yogyakarta