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November 27, 2019
West Papua Morning Star flag struggle ka whawhai tonu matou
Waatea Team
Posted On November 27, 2019
LEILANI SALESA INTERVIEW CLICK HERE
A national network of support groups for West Papuan human rights and self determination is holding events around the country on Sunday to coincide with the Morning Star flag being raised around West Papua.
Leilani Salesa from Auckland-based group Oceania Interrupted says some of the events will acknowledge that lives are likely to be lost that day in West Papua because of the Indonesian Government's violent response to symbols of independence such as that flag.
There has been a crack down on indigenous students since some were accused of disrespecting the Indonesian flag in August, but the response of the New Zealand Government has been to support Indonesia's claims.
She says New Zealand should look to its own history to respond.
"The parallels are very strong. They're ones of colonisation. They're ones linked to issues with land and self-determination and with human rights. I think of ka whawhai tonu matou, like the struggle continues and it is ever present and it is ongoing," Ms Salesa says.
Oceania Interrupted will raise the Morning Star Flag at Orakei Marae at 2pm on Sunday.
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