West Papua Heroes: chant their names, remember their legacy

On this International Indigenous Peoples Heroes Day, the Merdeka West Papua Support Network honors the generations of Indigenous West Papuans whose courage continues to light the path toward self-determination, genuine peace and freedom. 

Their lives show us that dignity is defended not once, but over and over, in villages, forests, campuses, churches, cultural centers, and in exile. 

From the shores of Biak to the highlands of Pegunungan Bintang, West Papuan communities have resisted occupation, state and corporate violence, and erasure of their history with a strength that grows from deep ancestral roots.

As global systems of extraction, imperialist war and militarization, and discrimination continue to target Indigenous Peoples territories, the story of West Papua stands as one of the most urgent struggles of our time. 

Yet despite repression, the Papuan movement for self-determination remains grounded in culture, spirituality, and collective memory. 

Inheriting the heroism of their ancestors, today’s West Papuan generation refuses to bow or submit to colonialism, striving to give their children a future full of hope. West Papua’s independence is the freedom of nature and of all our Earth, for West Papua is one of the last lungs of the planet. 

Let us stand together with West Papua. If not us, then who? If not now, then when?

We call on all West Papuan advocates, self-determination allies, to be partners of genuine peace, to protect West Papuans who speak truth under danger, and to uphold Indigenous Peoples rights in accordance with international law.

Amplify the voices of Indigenous West Papua. communities who have guarded their lands and futures with unwavering resolve. 

Chant their names, remember their legacy of giving everything for their people and dignity.

Their footsteps guide our own. Their legacy strengthens the journey to freedom.#

Reference: Merdeka West Papua Support Network merdeka.sec@gmail.com