Suspicious death of campaigner in West Papua

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday January 16, 2004 10:04

by Ruairi - West Papua Support/Morning Star Network

muscailt at yahoo dot com

Another brave man in the Papuan struggle

The death of print, radio and film journalist Mark Worth, has shocked Papuans and all those involved in the campaign to free West Papua from the brutal repression by the Indonesian military. Mark.died from unknown causes in a hotel room in Sentani, West Papua, yesterday, January 15. Mark is survived by his Papuan wife Helen and baby daughter Insoraki.

Mark was born in PNG and spent most of his life in PNG and West Papua. He spent most of the last 15 years producing radio programs, writing articles and producing documentary films about the West Papuan people and their struggle for self-determination. Mark’s influential documentary films include the ‘Act of No Choice’.

His death must be treated as suspicious when recent events in West Papua are considered, and because it came just two days after the announcement by ABC television that his latest documentary “Land of the Morning Star” would premier on Australian television on Monday 2 February. Mark described this film as his ‘life-time project’, and he spent the best part of the last ten years researching, collecting footage and interviewing Papuans to make what will be a lasting memorial to this committed journalist.

Recent weeks have seen a major escalation in intimidation and provocation by Indonesia. In the last few days five Papuans have been sentenced to between 20 years and life for their alleged involvement in a raid on a military post in Wamena. By contrast, the nine soldiers also involved received sentences of just 6 to 14 months. Papuans students are also being held in prison in Jakarta after a demonstration and face 20 years in jail, and seven highland leaders are being held in jail in Jayapura.

And this week infamous former police chief of East Timor, Timbul Silaen, who was charged with gross human rights violations during the 1999 East Timor atrocities, took up his post as Papuan police chief. And on Monday, in an act that shows there is no limit to Indonesia’s provocation, a small island off East Timor was bombed by the Indonesian navy.

Mark was widely believed to have been linked to the recent footage, which featured on SBS Dateline last November, of OPM leaders making appeals to the international community for help to bring about peaceful dialogue to solve the problems West Papua. Two days after the footage was screened, ten Papuans, including one of the leaders who featured in the film, were shot as they slept in a raid by 200 Indonesian soldiers. Their bodies were later displayed like hunting trophies.

When Mark’s high profile and reputation as an honest and influential journalist is considered, along with the recent events, is it any wonder that many view his death as suspicious. It is vital that Mark’s death be fully and independently investigated.

When West Papua finally gains independence, Mark’s contribution to that freedom will long be remembered by Papuans.

Papua merdeka!!

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Comments (4 of 4)

HACKERS!

by Ruairi

Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:16

It seems that www.westpapuanews.com has been hacked. Not sure. This has been happening alot to Papuan news and solidarity websites. Experience and help needed.

More general info on WP at http://www.newint.org/issue344/contents.htm

Struggle on

by Fergus

Fri Jan 16, 2004 19:53

Sad news... hopefully his work and the voice of Papuans will continue to be heard - listened to and acted upon.

Any chance of getting hold of a copy of "Land of the Morning Star" ?

westpapuanews.com was working fine yesterday evening.

The world keeps on burning.

Earlier this week British Petroleum sold a large chunk of their Chinese operations, reports in the Financial Times claim that part of the reason for this was due to pressure from Free Tibet campaigners.
Anyhow, one of the projects BP are now concentrating on is Tanguuh, West Papua. They've secured a deal to supply Liquified Natural Gas to the US and have Halliburton contracted for construction of the facility in Papua.
Found a good article outlining BP's meddling in West Papua.
Behind the BP Tanguuh Project Pro da
http://www.jatam.org/english/case/bt/uploaded/behind.html

Meanwhile in recognition of his services to British Industry, BP Chairman Peter Sutherland is to be confered with the title 'Knight Commander in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and St. George'
He's some crusader alright, Burning the Planet along with the LOTIS phalanx !

In December last year he donated 650,000 euro for the establishment of the Peter Sutherland Chair in European Law at the Faculty of Law, UCD. The law faculty aims to achieve the status of an international law school.
Should come in handy for BP as they script a 'competitive' constitution for a newly 'independent' West Papua.

Or maybe not ?
Repects to Mark Worth.

SOLIDARITY FROM THE UK

Mon Jan 19, 2004 17:20

The Irish support network would like to echo these sentiments:

Oxford, England. 16th January 2004

In the time of our ancestors, people lit fires on the mountain tops to pass on news or warn of danger. Through his life and work, Mark Worth has lit a blazing fire for the cause of Papuan freedom which will never go out.

At this time of great sadness and loss, all of us at West Papua Association-UK and Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign send our heartfelt condolences and love to Helina, Insoraki and all Mark's family and friends.

Mark's fire will carry on burning, shining out to people all over the World with news of the Papuan struggle for justice and with a message of hope that freedom for West Papua will surely come soon.

This is our promise to Mark's family and to all West Papuans :

We in England, together with all West Papua's many friends across the World, will continue to work with you in solidarity and love, inspired by Mark's bravery and commitment and determined above all to carry on Mark's work... until Merdeka comes!

West Papua Association-UK ------ ------ Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign

Land of the Morning Star

by Mankind

Mon Jan 19, 2004 21:49

I believe Land of the Morning Star is going to be shown by RTE. That's why it couldn't be shown by West Papua Action in the IFC recently. Keep an eye out for 'Act of No Choice' should it be screened by West Papua Action again at some future stage.

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Suspicious death of campaigner in West Papua

Comments (4 of 4)