Interim President: Boycott Indonesian Independence Day in West Papua

August 11, 2026

As President of the ULMWP, I call on all West Papuans to boycott Indonesian Independence Day on August 17th. 

West Papua is a graveyard. If we celebrate Indonesian Independence Day, we dishonour the hundreds of thousands of West Papuans killed under Indonesian colonial rule. This includes more than fifty Papuan civilians who have been killed by Indonesian guns, bombs and drones in the past four months. It includes the three killed in Korowai two weeks ago in indiscriminate reprisal attacks.

Every August 17th, we remind ourselves that West Papua has its own Independence Day: December 1st 1961, when we raised our flag and sang our anthem, witnessed by countries including the UK, the Netherlands and Australia. If we aim to fulfil our stolen sovereignty, we must take pride in our own national history. 

We respect Indonesian Independence Day, but it should not be celebrated in West Papua. The Indonesian flag means something different when raised on our lands – red for blood and white for surrender. Kami bukan Merah Putih, kami Bintang Kejora.

Instead of threatening and forcing West Papuans to raise their flag, as they do every year, Indonesia should respect the will of the West Papuan people and permit the expression of our political will. On behalf of the ULMWP, I also demand the immediate release of all Papuan political prisoners, especially those imprisoned for raising the Morning Star.

Ultimately, the West Papuan conflict will continue until the occupation ends. Indonesia will never win the support of the vast majority of West Papuans. Until we are permitted to express our right to self-determination through an internationally mediated referendum on independence, I call on all West Papuans to refuse to partake in Indonesian Independence Day.

Benny Wenda
Interim President 
ULMWP