West Papuans testify

We have come to testify. There is much that we want the world to know.

We want you to travel with us to the remote places of Papua-Wamena, Paniai, the Jayawijaya Highlands, the Star Mountains, Mindiptana, Timika, Arso, Mamberamo, Biak, Merauke, Asmat and many other places. We want you to hear stories of suffering from the mouths of ordinary people. Our memories are clear and sharp.

'In this river our father was murdered'

'On that mountain slope there used to be villages. They were destroyed by the military'

'On that open field, our old men were forced to burn their koteka [penis sheaths] because they were considered primitive'

'In the past that mountain was ours, now people have destroyed our mother'

We want you to travel with us to the sites of the massacres. We want to testify about the killings and the beatings with rifles.

We want to testify about the people who were disappeared, those who were imprisoned and those who were tortured.

There have been many forms of torture – the burning, the stabbing of the genitals, the rape of women.

These are some of the injustices that we want the world to know.

On some days bombs have fallen like rain. We have been up against Hercules aircraft and helicopters and boats. They had overwhelming power.

And after the massacres or murders, the injustices always continue.