A group of West Papuans living in Australia and their supporters are walking 73 kilometres from Geelong to Melbourne over April 26 to 30 to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses experienced by indigenous West Papuans who have lived under Indonesian occupation since 1963 and to raise awareness of the campaign for a free West Papua.
The distance of 73 kilometres was chosen to signify the distance between Australian territory (Deliverance Island) and West Papua.
A local community event will be held at each overnight stop to provide an opportunity to engage with Papuans about the situation in West Papua.
Rebecca Langley a volunteer with Voice of West Papua radio program on 3CR, one of the organisers of the walk, said: "It's time to raise our voices together and show our government, the people who represent us, that they need to put pressure on Indonesia to allow international NGOs and media access to West Papua. Lift the cloak of silence. It's time to talk about West Papua."’
The Walk for West Papua was organised in association with the Voice of West Papua radio program on 3CR. The walk will finish on Sunday April 30 in Footscray at the Footscray Arts Centre from 2pm.
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