Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress

19/10/2011

The Third Papuan People’s Congress took place in Zakeus field, Abepura from 17-19 October 2011. The event hosted representatives from all over West Papua, a follow-on to previous Congresses in 1961 and 2000.  On the third day, the Congress delacred that West Papua had been independent since 1961, and named the territory as the Federated Republic of West Papua. Police and military responded with gunfire, mass arrests and beatings. At least three people were killed. More than 300 people were arrested and six were held to be brought to trial, five of whom were found guilty of treason, with the sixth convicted of a lesser crime.

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