Councilor Amanda Stone from the Yarra City Council is cutting the ribbon on the Federal Republic of West Papua’s new office in Docklands (Melbourne) on Monday 23 June 2014. This is despite the Lombok Treaty, signed by Australia and Indonesia in 2006, which outlaws any demonstration of the Indonesian colony’s independence.
Jacob Rumbiak, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the new state, said “This office is about building the quality of relations between West Papua and Indonesia and Australia. These relations were hijacked by the UN’s New York Agreement in 1962, which illegally transferred West Papua from The Netherlands to Indonesia”.
Edison Waromi, Prime Minister of the new state (incarcerated in an Indonesia jail until 2015), said when Indonesia declared independence in 1945, and America declared independence in 1776, countries like France and Holland generated support and good will. “We have the same fundamental, so I wonder why no country is supporting us?” he said.
The new five-star energy office in Melbourne’s exciting new business district, is funded by one hundred Australians who have assembled themselves into a ‘West Papua Rent Collective’. Office Manager, Amos Wainggai, who came to Australian on an outrigger canoe in 2006, said “These politically conscious Australians have recognized our new state and are investing in it”.
Thirty guests invited to the opening of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Trade will travel to the opening ceremony and seminar along the Yarra River, from Federation Wharf to Collins Landing at Docklands.
Keynote speaker at the event is Professor Paul James, Director of the UN Compact City Program, Professor of Globalisation and Cultural Diversity (University of Western Sydney), Adviser to the Canadian Prime Minister for G20 Forum in 2004, and the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor.
Best Photo Opportunity: Collins Landing, Docklands, 10.30am, Monday 23 June 2014.
Inquiries: Melkias Okoka, Media Liason, 0403588796 |
mokoka@dfait.federalrepublicofwestpapua.org
