Benny Wenda : Mixing Religious Conflict with Political Interest

It has been more than two months since we posted the last article. Last July, a mosque and some kiosks were burned by some Christian youths affiliated to GIDI (Gereja Injili Di Indonesia or Evangelical Church of Indonesia) in Tolikara. Tolikara Regent Usman Wanimbo had confirmed to the Human Rights National Comission the existence of a local bylaw that limited the practice of certain religions. The local police had to take action to stop the rioters attacking the Muslims. Twelve rioters were injured by police gunfire while a teenager was shot dead. On 24 July, the police arrested two people, Jundi Wanimbo and Arianto Kogoya, for instigating the riot.

Photos from the mosque burning incident in Tolikara

Arianto Kogoya arrested for instigating the riot

We do not want to continue the religious conflict which happen in Tolikara but we are really disappointed with Benny Wenda's statement over Tolikara incident. His statement sounds very subjective and hateful. It should not be said by a former Nobel Peace Prize candidate (he actually does not deserve it). Here is the statement from Benny Wenda :

"We West Papuans have an entirely peaceful, united political struggle for independence. Our problems are with Indonesia’s illegal occupation of our country, not between Christians or Muslims. My people have always live peacefully side by side with all Papuans of different faiths but the Indonesian police and military have always wanted and always tried to stir up religious conflict to draw the world’s attention away from our freedom struggle. My people will show the world that we will not be provoked and we will continue to stand united and peaceful in our struggle for freedom. We want the free nation of West Papua to be for all Papuans, whatever religion but it is the Indonesian troops, not Papuans who are causing violence to try and divide and rule the country."

What a naive statement! Here we can see that Benny Wenda tried to deny the fact that there was horizontal conflict in West Papua. He tried to connect every incident in West Papua to Indonesian government. He tried to inform that there is only vertical conflict between the Indonesia government and West Papua people, there never be horizontal conflict between the West Papuans. His hatred to Indonesia has caused him lose his mind. A horizontal conflict, like tribal conflict or religious conflict, can happen anywhere and anytime in the world. Although we do not want any horizontal conflicts happen in West Papua, we have to admit that the fact there was horizontal conflict in West Papua.

As a radical Christian, Benny Wenda tried to convince that it was not the church's fault. It has been clear that it was the church's fault. The church published an announcement to restrict the Muslims in Tolikara doing Eid prayer. Let us imagine, how if the rioters were Muslims and the victims were Christians? He would say that it was part of Indonesian government's Islamization program, there was no religious freedom in Indonesia, it was attack to our Christianity, etc. So who is the real one who always tries to stir up religious conflict for political interest? You can see it by yourself. Here is the announcement which published by GIDI :

The announcement was signed by GIDI's preacher for Tolikara Area, Nayus Wenea, and its secretary, Marthen Jingga. Here are the translation of the three points of the announcement :

1. Opening Eid Mubarak ceremony on 17 July 2015, we do not allow it be held in Tolikara (Karubaga) Regency Area

2. Holding the holiday outside of Tolikara (Wamena) or Jayapura is allowed

3. The Muslim women are not allowed wearing headscarf

The past let be the past. Now we have to look forward and face the future together. The reconciliation between GIDI and the Muslims have been made. The riot instigators have been arrested and punished under Indonesia's law. Let this incident be a valuable lesson for us to keep interfaith harmony in West Papua, in Indonesia, even in the world. As a warning for Benny Wenda, we want to say : "Stop making any conflicts in West Papua more complicated with your political interest! You are in the UK now, not in West Papua! Please go and enjoy your life there!"

Yunus Wenda (a GIDI preacher) and Ali Muktar (a Muslim imam) making a reconciliation over religious conflict in Tolikara

Indonesian National Heroes from West Papua

Sukarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, ever gave us a message : "Do not ever forget history." Benny Wenda and Wim Rocky Medlama (one of KNPB leaders) ever made a statement that no West Papuan fought for Indonesian independence. Those people are blind about history. The Indonesian government has listed total 159 national heroes until today. Four of them are West Papuans. Here are our national heroes from West Papua :

Silas Ayari Donrai Papare

Silas Papare was born in Serui, Yapen Islands, on 18 December 1918. He was graduated from medical school in 1935. He was imprisoned by the Dutch because of provoking Papuan Batallion to rebel against the colonial government. In Hollandia (now Jayapura) prison, he met Gerungan Saul Samuel Jacob Ratulangi, well-known as Sam Ratulangi (future governor of Sulawesi), who also imprisoned for his resistance against the Dutch. From this point, he knew that West Papua should be part of Indonesia in the future.

On 17 August 1945 following the surrender of Japan, Sukarno declared the independence of Indonesia. Along with Thung Tjing Ek (a Chinese descendant living in West Papua), Silas Papare established PKII (Partai Kemerdekaan Indonesia Irian or Irian Indonesian Independence Party). He and other Papuans were captured after raising Red and White flag in year 1947. But he successfully escaped from the prison and fled to Yogyakarta. In 1949, he established Badan Perjuangan Irian or Irian Struggle Corps in Yogyakarta with purpose to drive out the Dutch and integrate West Papua to Republic of Indonesia.

The relation between Indonesia and the Netherlands was getting worse. Many countries supported Indonesia to retake West Papua from the Netherlands. Indonesia gained support in Colombo Conference and Asia-Africa Conference as part of anti colonialism campaign. The US under John Fitzgerald Kennedy also suppressed the Netherlands to hand off West Papua. Dutch products boycott had spread across Indonesia. Indonesia and the Netherlands were on the eve of total war. On 19 December 1961, Sukarno announced military campaign to liberate West Papua.

To stop the conflict, Indonesia and the Netherlands met in New York under US mediation. The Dutch had cheated Indonesia by making false independence of West Papua on 1 December 1961. It was Dutch maneuver to prevent West Papua be united with Indonesia. Silas Papare was sent by the Indonesian government to represent Indonesia in New York. This meeting results New York Agreement.

According to New York Agreement, West Papua would be under UNTEA (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority) before given back to Indonesia. On 1 May 1963, West Papua was officially integrated to the Republic of Indonesia. Silas Papare died on 7 March 1973. He was recognized as national hero on 14 September 1993. His famous words are "Do not praise me but continue my struggle." To honor Silas Papare, a meeting hall in Serui is named after him. A Parchim class corvett is also named as KRI (Kapal Republik Indonesia or Republic of Indonesia Ship) Silas Papare to honor him.

KRI Silas Papare

Frans Kaisiepo

Frans Kaisiepo was born in Biak on 10 October 1921. He studied at Papua bestuurschool (police school of Papua) in Hollandia in 1945. The idea of independent Indonesia had spread among the students. Frans Kaisiepo proposed the name of the most eastern island in Indonesia from "New Guinea" change to "Irian" which from Biak language means "hot land". From the word "Irian", he made acronym "Ikut Republik Indonesia Anti Nederland" or "Join Anti Netherlands Republic of Indonesia". He also asked his brother, Markus Kaisiepo, to change Papua bestuurschool to Irian bestuurschool.

On 31 August 1945, Frans Kaisiepo, Markus Kaisiepo, Corinus Krey, and the other Komite Indonesia Merdeka (Free Indonesia Committee) members hoisted Red and White flag and sang Indonesia Raya, Indonesia's national anthem. Frans Kaisiepo was also one of the founders of Partai Indonesia Merdeka (Free Indonesia Party) led by Lukas Rumkorem. Following the capture of Silas Papare, Frans Kaisiepo and Johan Ariks continued the struggle to liberate West Irian from Dutch control. On March 1948, a rebellion broke in Biak. Frans Kaisiepo was one of the brains.

The Netherlands and Indonesian met in Round Table Conference on 27 December 1949 in Den Haag. The Indonesian War of Independence was over. To get Frans Kaisiepo's sympathy, the government of the Netherlands asked him to be Dutch delegation during Round Table Conference. But he directly refused the offer. He also protested the Netherlands for separating West New Guinea from Indonesia in Round Table Conference.

The years after Round Table Conference, confrontation between Indonesia and the Netherlands over West Papua got international attention. To save her face in international community, the Netherlands quickly prepared independence for West Papua. It was no more than making West Papua as a puppet state. On 19 December 1961 in Yogyakarta, Sukarno announced military campaign to liberate West Irian. This campaign is known as Trikora Operation. Frans Kaisiepo actively helped Indonesian troops landing in West New Guinea during Trikora Operation.

After the official integration of West Papua, West Papua became the 26th province of Indonesia with name West Irian (now it is divided into West Papua province and Papua province). Frans Kaisiepo was appointed to be the second governor of West Irian succeding Elias Jan Bonay. Frans Kaisiepo died on 10 April 1979. He was recognized as national hero on 14 September 1993. To honor his service for the country, an airport in Biak is named after him.

Frans Kaisiepo Airport

Marthen Indey

Marthen Indey was born in Doromena, Hollandia, on 14 March 1912. He was a policeman and worked for colonial government. He was ordered by the Dutch colonial government to watch the independence activists who was exiled by the colonial government. His nationalism grew after met those independence activists. Along with 30 men, he planned to kidnap the Dutch officers. But their plan was detected and Marthen Indey was moved to isolated area in Digul.

When Japanese occupied Dutch East Indies during World War II, he followed the Dutch East Indies government in exile to Australia. In 1944, the Allied troops under Douglas McArthur invaded the Japanese-held New Guinea. Following the arrival of Allied forces in West New Guinea, Marthen Indey went back to his homeland. He asked by the Allies to train the locals to fight the Japanese. In the following year, he became the district chief of Arso Yamai and Waris for two years.

In these years, he still tried to communicate secretly with the independence activists whom he ever met before. On January 1946, he also communicated with pro Indonesia Moluccans in Ambon. On October 1946 along with Frans Kaisiepo and the others, Marthen Indey joined Partai Indonesia Merdeka. He and twelve tribal chiefs sent protest to the Dutch government over its plan to separate West Papua from Indonesia. Because of his action, the Dutch jailed him for three years.

During Trikora Operation, Marthen Indey saved many Indonesian troops who were sent to infiltrate the Dutch-held New Guinea. Many of them were hid in his house to avoid Dutch patrol. Indonesia had sent more than a hundred warships and landed 16,000 troops to liberate West Papua during Trikora Operation. In 1962, he released Kota Baru Charter which stated West Papuans willing to be part of Indonesia. To stop the conflict, Indonesia and the Netherlands met in New York and Marthen Indey was one of Indonesian delegations who were sent to New York.

After West Papua officially integrated to the Republic of Indonesia on 1 May 1963, Marthen Indey became MPRS (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat Sementara or Temporary People's Consultative Council) member for period 1963 until 1968. Marthen Indey died on 17 July 1986. Along with Silas Papare and Frans Kaisiepo, he was recognized as national hero on 14 September 1993 by President Soeharto. A hospital in Jayapura is named Marthen Indey to honor the national hero.

Johannes Abraham Dimara

Johannes Dimara was born in Biak on 16 April 1916. He was son of William Dimara, a korano or village chief. The son of korano was used to be called Arabei. Arabei means "lizard" in Biak language. When he was 13, he was adopted by an Ambonese named Elisa Mahubesi. He finished his primary school in 1930 and continued studying agriculture until 1935. He studied again at Christian school and then worked as Christian religion teacher.

During Indonesian War of Independence, Johannes Dimara was a harbor policeman in Namlea Port, Buru Island. His nationalism grew after he met some Moluccan sailors from ALRI (Angkatan Laut Republik Indonesia or Republic of Indonesia Navy). They arrived with a ship named Sindoro commanded by Captain Ibrahim Saleh and Yos Sudarso (later he died in Battle of Arafura Sea). These sailors came to spread Indonesian proclamation of independence in Moluccas.

In 1950, situation in Moluccas was getting worse because of rejection of NIT (Negara Indonesia Timur or State of East Indonesia, a puppet state created by the Dutch to divide Indonesia) by pro Dutch Moluccans especially by ex-KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger or Royal Netherlands Indies Army) soldiers. RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan or Republic of South Moluccas) was proclaimed by Christiaan Robbert Steven Soumokil, a pro Dutch Moluccan, to separate Moluccas from Indonesia. Johannes Dimara helped the Indonesian government fought RMS rebels.

Johannes Dimara established OPI (Organisasi Pembebasan Irian or Irian Liberation Organization) on October 1954. He and 40 men infiltrated the Dutch. The clash between OPI and Dutch troops was inevitable. Eleven of his men died and the rest was arrested and jailed in Digul. After he was freed, he back again fought the Dutch by establishing Gerakan Rakyat Irian Barat (West Irian People's Movement). In 1961, Sukarno appointed him to be Indonesian delegation for UN to discuss West Papua problem.

On 17 August 1962 during the rally in front of presidential palace, Johannes Dimara wore broken chains as symbol that West Papua had been liberated. This action inspired Sukarno to build West Irian Liberation Statue. He died in Jakarta on 20 October 2000. Along with Johannes Leimena, a hero from Moluccas, he was recognized as national hero on 11 November 2010. His biography was written in book Fa Ido Ma, Ma Ido Fa : Lintas Perjuangan Putra Papua by Carmelia Sukmawati. Johannes Dimara was well-known as a simple and humble man.

Fa Ido Ma, Ma Ido Fa : Lintas Perjuangan Putra Papua by Carmelia Sukmawati

There are still many West Papuans waiting to be recognized as national hero. They are Lukas Rumkorem, Petrus Watebossy, George Henk Ayerbaba, Lodewijk Mandatjan, Petero Jandi, etc. Some of them are still alive. They are Ramses Ohee and Frits Kirihio. It is our duty as West Papuan young generation to keep Red and White flag raising over West Papua until our last breath.

This is our turn to keep this flag raising over our beloved West Papua

West Papuan People Do Not Need Islamophobic Leaders

Indonesia is a multicultural state. According to the official statistics, there are 1,340 tribes in Indonesia. Although Indonesia has the most Muslim population in the world, Indonesia is not an Islamic state. For comparison, Indonesia is more like Turkey or Syria than Saudi Arabia or Iran. The Indonesian women are not forced to wear headscarf by the state. Some eastern provinces in Indonesia are Christian-dominated provinces, they are East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, West Papua, and Papua.

Papua as the most eastern island in Indonesia is a Protestant Christian-dominated island. Both Protestants and Catholics make up 60.80% of total population in West Papua Province and 83.15% in Papua Province. Despite Protestanism is the majority religion in West Papua, there are also West Papuan Muslims. Although there are different religions in West Papua, they live in harmony. Even the harmony is not only between the native Papuans but also between the other islanders (Javanese, Buginese, Ambonese, Balinese, etc) and the native Papuans.

A West Papuan calling for prayer in a mosque

New santris (Islam religion disciples) from Nuu Waar (another name for Papua)

Look on the picture below. Benny Wenda ever said on his untrustable Free West Papua Campaign page that Indonesian government took these West Papuan children and converted them to Islam because of Indonesia's Islamization policy. There is no Islamization policy in Indonesia. Every citizen has rights to spread his or her religion. Although the door is like a jail door, it does not mean they are jailed. How if it was just a door? We admit that there were many pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools) in Indonesia in bad conditions and sometimes have poor facility.

Benny Wenda said on his Free West Papua Campaign page that these children were taken from their families to be converted to Islam

Most of the pesantrens are run by Islamic organizations or individuals. The government of Indonesia rarely even almost never runs any pesantrens. Next questions, who runs this pesantren on the picture above? How if it belonged to Fadzlan Garamatan whom Benny Wenda said from "radical Islamic organization" named AFKN (Al-Fatih Kaaffah Nusantara)? Who is Fadzlan Garamatan? Fadzlan Garamatan is a West Papuan Muslim. He is an ustad (Islam religion teacher). He goes to parts of West Papua spreading Islamic teaching. As Indonesian citizen, he has rights for it. He is not a radical guy like Benny Wenda said.

Fadzlan Garamatan

Fadzlan Garamatan and his santris

Does Indonesia have Islamization policy like Benny Wenda ever said? Let us see Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia. We can consider that capital is the mirror of a country. Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia, there are Muslim mosques, Protestant churches, Catholic churches, Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, and Sikh gurdwaras. So Islamization program which Benny Wenda ever talked about is just a bullshit to get sympathy from Christian majority countries, especially from the radical Christians.

Jin De Yuan Temple of Jakarta

Cathedral Church of Jakarta

Sikh gurdwara in Jakarta

Hindu religious procession in Jakarta

During MSG Forum in Honiara few weeks ago, Octovianus Mote as secretary general of ULMWP gave untrustable and full of religious hatred speech. "In the next five years, Papuans will be less than 29% of the population in our own land. Our Melanesian identity, our Christian identity, is under threat of a large wave of migrants from Indonesia and the Muslim-dominated Asia," he said. Has he also counted the West Papuans who live in the other islands? There are large population of West Papuans living in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Manado, and Ambon. Even there is also small population of West Papuans living in Madura which well-known as a Muslim-dominated island.

His speech sounds full of religious hatred because he said "Christian identity". MSG is not a Christian organization. It is an economic organization for Melanesian countries. What does he mean with these words? Is he going to make West Papua a Christian state? Is he going to wipe out the Muslims like what happen in Central African Republic? Did Jesus Christ teach us to hate the other religion followers? West Papuan people do not want West Papua become a "second Central African Republic". West Papuan people do not need Islamophobic leaders like Benny Wenda and Octovianus Mote.

We do not want this also happen in West Papua

We want two biggest religions in the world live in harmony

Benny Wenda : Dancing on the Money You Have Given

Benny Wenda is a West Papuan who likes to sell fictional sad story about West Papua. He always says "genocide", "killing", "discrimination", etc. He tries to make West Papua's image as bad as he can. Everything bad about West Papua will be a great story for him. He never speaks about West Papua objectively. He tries to make West Papuan people's image as bad as Aboriginal Australian people's. But on the other hand, he also asks support from Australia. He asks support to stop "genocide" from a country which ever did genocide. What a shame!

Aboriginal Australians chained by the white Australians like animals

West Papuan students get education as equal as the other Indonesian students

Benny Wenda usually makes charity concert for West Papua even he ever made a world tour. He also usually gives lecture at universities and brainwashes the students. Of course he gets a lot of money from the donation. But where does the money go? Does the money go to the West Papuan people? No, it does not. The West Papuan people never receive it. It goes to Benny Wenda's pocket. It is not like donating for UNICEF or WWF. These organizations are more credible than Benny Wenda's Free West Papua Campaign. The "genocide" he always talks about does not exist.

Benny Wenda likes coming to clean, luxurious, and expensive places

Very contrasting compared to Benny Wenda, Indonesian president Joko Widodo likes coming to bad, dirty, and sometimes disgusting places

On 28 April 2013, Benny Wenda announced the opening of Free West Papua Campaign office in Oxford. Is it really an office? No, it is not an office. It is his house. He and his family live there. He bought it from the donation. That is why he ever prohibited BBC's reporter going inside his "office" for interviewing him. He says that his people lived in poverty but he actually lives in luxury. This house is located on Princes Street, Oxford. According to the information from www.zoopla.co.uk, average price for a house on Princes Street is £352,691. That is a fantastic number in the United Kingdom!

So do not waste your money to help people like Benny Wenda. He has pitiful face that can control your emotion and make you give your money to him. He deserves to get title "the best beggar in the world". There are still so many people who really need your help out there. More money you spend for him, louder he laughs over you. Benny Wenda is dancing on the money you have given.

Benny Wenda : A Dead Body Photograph Seller

Benny Wenda

Benny Wenda is a West Papuan independence activist. Many people who fight for freedom and human rights must know his name. He lives in the UK and his name ever be put on blacklist by INTERPOL. He was not arrested by POLRI (Kepolisian Republik Indonesia or Republic of Indonesia Police) because of raising Morning Star flag like what he always says. He was arrested because of leading a mob attacking a police post and two stores in Abepura in year 2000. A cop was killed and three others were injured. He escaped from the prison in 2011. Then he seeked for asylum in the United Kingdom.

Nowadays he campaigns independence for West Papua from Indonesia. He always says that Indonesian government was committing genocide over the indigenous of West Papua. To ensure the people, he always use dead West Papuan photographs. But we have to analyze the truth from those photographs. First question, are those people in the photographs really the victims of Indonesian cops or Indonesian soldiers brutality? Second question, how could he get those photographs? Third question, if there was genocide in West Papua, why there was no photograph of West Papuan women or children killed by Indonesian government?

Benny Wenda would like showing horrible picture like this

Benny Wenda would hate looking beautiful picture like this

For example, look on the picture below. Is that on this man's mouth blood? Is he beaten by Indonesian cop like what Benny Wenda ever said? The answer is no. His mouth gets red because he eats pinang. He could say this man's mouth was beaten by Indonesian cop because most of his European audience do not know what pinang is. Most Papuans have habit eating pinang. We can see the other part of his face looks fine. He looks sleepy and laying his head while enjoying his pinang. When you eat pinang, your mouth becomes red. It is like when you drink coffee, your teeth becomes brown or black.

Benny Wenda said on his Free West Papua Campaign page that this guy was beaten by Indonesian cop

Mouth will become red after eat pinang

This is pinang

For another example, look on the picture below. Is that an Indonesian soldier interrogating West Papuan villagers like Benny Wenda said? No. It is awkward to interrogate someone on an open space like that. Even it would be more illogical if he was interrogating three people while he was alone. We can see on the action films. Usually there must be more than one interrogators and one interrogated person. It would be more logical if we said this as a warm conversation between a soldier and the civilians. TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia or Indonesian National Army) has good relationship with the civilians.

Benny Wenda said on his Free West Papua Campaign page that this soldier was interrogating the villagers

Two Indonesian soldiers cleaning a school together with the students in Workwana (near PNG border)

This is what we could say as interrogation

Let us go to the first question. Who are they in those pictures? It would be very nonsense if Indonesian police or Indonesian army tortured or killed a civilian then took and shared the photograph to the public. For making a comparison, it would be nonsense if US marines shared photographs how they torture the prisoners in Guantanamo. What if they were victims of criminal action? What if they were the victims of tribal war? What if they were tortured or killed by the separatist rebels themselves? These questions make sense those photographs. He used those questionable photographs to blame Indonesia.

Second question, how could he get those pictures? There is a group which affiliated to Benny Wenda within West Papua named KNPB (Komite Nasional Papua Barat or West Papua National Commitee). They usually make demonstration and force the people to join them. Sometimes their demonstration becomes riot. What if Benny Wenda got those photographs from this group? They could give every story he wants to listen. They could give every photographs he wants to see. He just needs to make a description over the photograph to make Indonesia look bad.

A KNPB member provoking the civilians to join KNPB's demonstration by distributing flyers

For the last question, why there is no photograph of dead West Papuan women or children? Because the "genocide" which he always say does not exist. If Indonesia government committed genocide over the West Papuans, why do they not kill West Papuan women and the children also? Why does Indonesian government build many schools and send many teachers to West Papua if the goal was to kill them all?

West Papuan elementary students singing a song happily during the class

So we have to analyze what we listen and what we see. Benny Wenda needs fake photographs to ensure the audience what he says is "true". This is how he can get very much money from the donation. He could buy an expensive house in Oxford from the donation. We agree that a photograph can change a thousand of words. But on the other hand, it can make more questions to be answered. This is why he deserves to be called as a "dead body photograph seller".