Filipino Activists commit to strengthening solidarity for a #FreeWestPapua

"Freedom is our collective dream, and this dream knows no borders. Supporting the fight for self-determination in the Philippines and in West Papua is not just an act of solidarity—it is our duty for international justice and liberation," opened Paul Belisario, Global Coordinator, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) in an afternoon of discussion about the West Papua.

Last May 2, 2025, Gempar, a youth mass organization from West Papua held a discussion in Manila with various Filipino people’s organizations in an exchange of solidarity, history, and resistance. The discussion aimed to deepen awareness about the West Papuan people's persisting struggle for self-determination and liberation from Indonesia's colonial occupation. Hosted by the Merdeka West Papua Support Network, the event was attended by representatives from Filipino Indigenous Women, the peasant movement, environmental activists, and other progressive formations. The gathering became a space of mutual learning and commitment to international solidarity, with Filipino groups expressing their support for the West Papuan cause and pledging to amplify their calls for justice on local and global platforms.

The gathering fostered a space for mutual learning and commitment to international solidarity, with Filipino activists expressing their commitment to support the West Papuan cause and pledging to amplify the right of Papuan’s to self-determination.“The Filipino people recognize the fact that we not only share common problems and struggles, but a common enemy. It is then important that we carry on the task of expanding Merdeka as a support network of peoples’ of the world for the West Papuan struggle, and hope for the realization of its expansion in the Philippines” said Kakay Tolentino, of BAI Indigenous Women. 

This discussion marked a significant step in building people-to-people solidarity across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, emphasizing the need for continued grassroots unity in resisting imperialism and colonial oppression.#