A collection of vlogs featuring musicians, artists, political leaders, poets and commentators.
We cannot be silent in the face of genocide.
We cannot be silent in the face of genocide.
Group: Mburawa - Nah Manu’ara (My Mother)
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It is a story about a mother who is working hard to support and bring life to her children.
Through this song, we also want to send our message to our friends, wantoks in the pacific the listen to our story. And how we can connect. I am a farmer, and I plant TIWA (Kava), which is our traditional/kastom drink. The reason why I work as a farmer and plant and grow TIWA (Kava) is that it is part of our culture. My mother and my father are farmers too and they also have TIWA gardens. That is their main garden. My parents are already in their old age, so as a younger generation I have to continue their legacy and their work, to keep planting KIWA and protect our culture. Through this video I also want to send a message to all my wantoks in the pacific, how could we come together and share experience and knowledge about preserving culture, especially sharing about TIWA (Kava) and discuss it, and work together to make this drink becomes famous and likable by many people. |
About: Mburawa
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This string band group is called Mburawa. The members of this group came from various backgrounds, some of us are university students, high school students, farmers, and laborers.
The reason why we formed this group is that we want to keep our culture and tradition among the young people so that the culture and knowledge can be passed down to the next generation, through song and music. The songs we always sing, are songs about Papuan people’s life. The songs are about how family and people in the village live in harmony and support one another so they can survive all changes we have now. We do our music after everyone finishes with their daily activities, students went to school and study first, the laborer went to work, and myself as a farmer, I work in my garden first. After that, we will gather and practice our music. Through this group, every day we have come together and share our life experiences and discuss our lives here and try to bring our perspectives about our lives together through music. So we wrote songs about students' life and struggle, farmers' life and also laborer life. That is the way we express our views. |
Group: Pastor Yosep and the students
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On October 12, 2021, Father Yoseph was ordained as a priest in Intan Jaya. Not long after that, the attack happened, and Father Yoseph and his colleagues' priests had to save and protect many people by standing on the front line and trying to save people. As can be see in the video, the man with the white robe running and trying to save people, was him.
Father Yoseph is currently living in Intan Jaya, where the armed conflict between the West Papuan National Liberation Army and Indonesia’s joint forces of military and police attacked each other in the middle of the village. |
AGO MIGA MENE, LOGO MA - Save Intan Jaya Composed: Fr. Yoseph Bunai
Singers: Fr. Yoseph Bunai, Maria JB, and Alince GK I am a human being, Am I? I am a human being, Am I? In the Wilderness of Papua, My Intan Jaya Forest Our tears are flowing like blood Our laughter sounds like bullets Our cries have been silenced, by the muzzle of the weapon Our bodies have been treated badly as if we were animals Tortured, Murdered, Raped Our land has been taken away Our forest has robbed Our rivers has been taken away Our natural wealth has been stolen from us Oh God, please look at my country Papua, Intan Jaya Don't let the oppressions continue Please help us end all this suffering We want to live freely we have always been tortured, always killed, as if we were wild animals I am a human being, Am I? I am a human being, Am I? |
Interviewee: Octo Mote
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Octo Mote is an established West Papuan journalist, an academic, and writer. He is a West Papuan leader currently based in the USA and was also the former Secretary General of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
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Poet/ Writer: Krystal Juffa
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Krystal Juffa is a writer, singer and poet from Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
She is also an artist, songwriter, a journalist and activist. Her poem “What Freedom should look like” is about the pain and suffering West Papua continues to overcome. You can also read about her Poem HERE. |
Poet: Georgianna Lepping
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Georgianna Lepping is a poet from the Solomon Islands.
She is also a writer, freelance filmmaker and activist. Her poem “Morning Star” emphasis the symbol of hope the West Papua flag signifies, that one day the people of West Papua will be free. |
Artist: Seru Serevi
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“Justice and Freedom now for West Papua and not in another 60 years.”
Seru Serevi or known to many as the “Vude King” has been in the music industry for more than 40 years. In this interview with Lice Cokanasiga in Itaukei language, he shares his journey and what inspired his solidarity for West Papua. Seru also shares about his single titled “Let the Morning Star Rise”, emphasizing the need for the Pacific to stand up against Indonesia’s colonization of our fellow West Papuans. |
Artist: Natalie Raikadroka
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Natalie Raikadroka is a Fijian artist and a strong supporter for West Papua who recently released a single “I Bleed For You”
for the We Bleed Black and Red Campaign. In this interview with Tamani Rarama she shares how this song is her plea and prayer and represents the pain she shares with West Papua. She also talks about what inspires her to stand in solidarity with West Papua. |
Artist: Ralph Regenvanu
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Our ignorance and silence on West Papua is “the greatest betrayal” – Ralph Regenvanu.
Ralph is a Vanuatu parliamentarian, an artist, and anthropologist. He is currently the Opposition Leader of the Vanuatu Parliament, but has been a staunch supporter for West Papua’s freedom. In his interview with Mereoni Chung he shares his political views for Pacific regional solidarity for West Papua. |
Poet: Lorraine Kluki - Diabolical Silence
Poem 1: Diabolical Silence |
Lorraine Kluki is from Papua New Guinean and a final year student at the University of Papua New Guinea who is pursuing a career in the field of Journalism and Public Relations.
She has a passion for poetry and creative writing and aspires to be a writer. Lorraine uses her poetry to raise issues affecting Melanesia and hope to write more about West Papua. |
Poem 2: Denial from Freedom |
Poem 3: Tribute to Benny Wenda |
Interviewee: Oridek Ap
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Oridek Ap is an Executive Member of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and Head of the ULMWP’s EU Mission. He is also coordinator of the Free West Papua Campaign in the Netherlands. His father was the legendary West Papuan musician and anthropologist Arnold Ap, who was assassinated by Indonesian Special Forces in 1984.
In this interview with Joey Tau, Oridek shares about the history of the Morning Star flag and why the world must continue to stand in solidarity with West Papua. |
Interviewee: Leonie Tanggahma
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Leonie Tanggahma, is a West Papuan leader who lives in the Netherlands. She is the daughter of the late Bernard Tanggahma, who was also a well-known West Papuan leader. Leonnie had served as an executive of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and she continues to fight for her people’s right to self-determination in the parent organization, the Free Papua Movement, OPM.
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Artist: Stanleyson Antas
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Stanleyson Antas is a singer, songwriter from the island of Malo, Sanma Province, in Vanuatu.
He started his career in Suva, Fiji playing with a few bands during his university days. In 2011 he moved back home to Vanuatu where he formed the band, "Stan and the Earth Force". With the band he has released 4 albums and a number over singles over the last 10 years. His music can be best described as Roots and conscious music. |
Artist: Chris Cobb - [Freedom]
Freedom is an original song by Papua New Guinean singer and songwriter, Chris Cobb. In acknowledging International Human Rights Day this 10th of December, Cobb dedicates this song to all West Papuans in their fight for freedom and justice.