AMNESTY READING – Benny Wenda addressed Amnesty International regarding West Papuan political prisoner on Thursday, 12th March in Reading, United Kingdom.

Benny spoke of how the Indonesian government is still holding dozens of political prisoners in West Papua such as Filep Karma who has been jailed for 15 years ever since 2004 just for raising the West Papuan national flag. Benny reminded those attending that in the history of the world, only West Papuans were jailed for 15 years for raising their national flag. It is criminal that such a long, unjust prison sentence can go on even in the 21st century.

Benny also spoke of how the Indonesian government is committing systematic genocide in West Papua and has been indiscriminately violating the human rights of the West Papuan people ever since they occupied the country in 1963.

Amnesty International in Reading showed strong support once again for the rights of West Papuans, including political prisoners like Filep Karma.