SORONG — Thousands of masses joined in the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) of Sorong Raya Region crowded the city streets in a national action that took place in an orderly and militant manner. This action was held to coincide with the momentum of 66 years of history referred to as the annexation of the Papuan nation by colonial Indonesia from May 1, 1963, to 2026. Carrying the central theme decided in the 8th KNPB National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas), namely Papua Military Emergency Zone and Humanitarian Emergency, the masses conducted a longmarch from the KNPB office to the central point of action at the Maranatha red light intersection under the direct escort of KNPB Sorong Raya Region militants.
The movement of the masses, which began in the early morning, was filled with sharp political orations regarding the long history of the struggle for sovereign rights. In the oration, the General Chairperson of KNPB Sorong Raya Region emphasized that the situation in the Papuan homeland today is becoming increasingly tense due to the forests and humans being completely cut down. This situation was reinforced by shocking data presented by student representatives, stating that there are at least 107,023 Papuan people who are now forced to flee in their own land due to the ongoing military operations.
The atmosphere of the action became even more emotional when a representative of Papuan women took to the podium and voiced deep concern regarding the future of the Papuan generation. KNPB emphasized that the six pillars of legal facts, starting from the proclamation of December 1, 1961, to the failure of the 1969 PEPERA, serve as an unshakable foundation that the Indonesian presence in Papua is an illegal occupation. This narrative was reinforced by a statement of attitude declaring that weapons will never be able to kill the historical truth of the Papuan nation.
"Sixty-three years they tried to silence us. Sixty-three years we have continued to speak. Weapons can kill the body. But weapons cannot kill the truth. Weapons cannot kill history. Weapons cannot kill rights," emphasized the statement of attitude read by the field coordinator in front of the masses crowding the main road. The statement was greeted by shouts of independence echoing along the action route, confirming that the belief in the right to sovereignty remains alive despite military pressure.
KNPB Sorong Raya also officially issued diplomatic demands addressed to the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, to regional forums such as the MSG and PIF. They urged the immediate formation of an Independent International Investigation Commission to investigate alleged genocide and gross human rights violations that have claimed more than 500,000 Papuan lives since 1963. KNPB emphasized that the international community must no longer turn a blind eye to the information isolation and the expulsion of human rights monitors conducted by Indonesian authorities in Papua.
The action, which lasted until the afternoon, was closed with the reading of the full statement of attitude accompanied by the KNPB Sorong Raya Regional Executive Board. In the closing, KNPB stated that West Papua's independence is no longer just a dream, but a historical certainty that is in progress. After the entire series of orations and demands were delivered, the masses dispersed in an orderly manner toward their respective homes while maintaining the spirit of peaceful but consistent resistance. ***