Graphic novel about West Papua released online
A graphic novel advocating West Papuan independence has been released online, as part of efforts to provide an alternative version of the history of the Indonesian-run province.
Transcript
A graphic novel advocating West Papuan independence has been released online, as part of efforts to provide an alternative version of the history of the Indonesian-run province.
The illustrated novel, which is called Vanishing Tribes: Unheard Voices from West Papua, is authored under the penname Ahinsa Angel, which means messenger of peace.
The project's manager, who does not wish to be named, says most people don't know that West Papua exists and cannot find it on a map.
He told Amelia Langford the characters in the story are fictional but the story is based on true events.
PROJECT MANAGER: Well, really our main objective was to bring the story of West Papua to people in the world who knew absolutely nothing about the place, and that is of course the vast majority of global citizens. In Australia, New Zealand, many people know about West Papua because you're so close, but beyond that, in many of the nations that really matter in terms of influencing the UN Security Council, the US in particular of course but also the UK and so on, people have no idea. Most of them don't know that West Papua even exists as a place, they couldn't find it on a map, and those who can find it on a map know nothing about what is actually going on there. So we're really trying to get to an audience that knows nothing about this, or if they do know something about it we want to provide them with a story that they find interesting and inspiring, put it that way. Because earlier versions of the book were informative, but frankly, they were depressing. So we needed to find some way of uplifting people and giving them a story that was worth reading. That wasn't too difficult because of course what is going on in West Papua with 50 years of peaceful protest is really quite inspiring.
AMELIA LANGFORD: Tell me, why did you chose the format of the graphic novel?
PM: It's a way to reach a wider audience certainly, also it's a way to connect with people on a human level because in reading a graphic novel it conveys a different message through the images than it does through just reading text.
AL: What would you like people to take away from this book when they read it?
PM: Well I think there is two segments of the audience there. One is people who already know something about West Papua, and what I would like them to take away from it is that it's not a disheartening, depressing, hopeless situation, it's a situation that is really we can admire what the West Papuans have done over the years and we can learn from that. It also gives us cause for hope. The other segment of the readership will be people who know nothing about West Papua. And I just want them to see the importance of it, and if they happen to be in one of the countries where they can have some influence on their government's policies I would like them to feel strongly enough after reading the book that they will take some action and hopefully influence those government policies so that their governments stop providing the military and diplomatic and financial support that really enables Indonesia to carry on the way they have been.
To view the novel, go to www.vanishingtribes.net.
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