28 Nov 2011

International arrest warrant won't silence Papuan activist

8:07 am on 28 November 2011

A West-Papuan activist says an interpol notice won't stop him working towards independence for the Indonesian region.

An Interpol red notice has been issued for the head of the Free West Papua Movement, Benny Wenda, meaning he could be provisionally arrested to be extradited to Indonesia.

He has lived with his wife and children in the English city of Oxford since being granted asylum nine years ago.

Mr Wenda says the notice is Indonesia trying to intimidate him and stop him from travelling.

"Even [if] they put me in the prison or whatever, I'm telling the truth. That's my commitment to help my people. I'm a servant of my people, I will continue. I'm never silent, even if they put red notice. If they send [me] back to Indonesia, I will be a dead man. At a human level, I worry but also at the same time I don't worry. If they deport me to Indonesia, yes I will die with my people as well."

Bendy Wenda says lawyers are working on having the red notice removed.