In August 2018, Febriana Firdaus (via skype) and Thum Ping Tjin sat down with Benny Wenda to interview him about his life, his people’s struggle for freedom, the Free West Papua Movement, and his hopes for the future.
Author Archives: Febriana Firdaus
Febriana Firdaus is an independent investigative journalist whose major focus is reporting the struggle for self-determination in West Papua. Her piece on the killings of the children in the highlands in West Papua was published in the TIME. She also notably received the SOPA Award for excellent reporting on the environment for her 'vigorous and detailed look at a major environmental problem' in Mentawai Island.
Posted inComic, Voices
“I Am Human, Just Like You”
The story of Benny Wenda, a Papuan activist living in exile in Oxford, and how his own childhood experiences led him to where he is today.
Posted inFeature
The Unbroken Spirit of Benny Wenda
Now in exile, activist Benny Wenda leads the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, advocating for the independence of a homeland half a world away.
Posted inFeature
The Elephant in the Newsroom
Human rights groups and foreign journalists are often barred from entering West Papua, allowing the Indonesian authorities to control the narrative. Local journalists are fighting back by reporting on human rights abuses, often at risk to their own safety.
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Posted inFeature
The Making of a Female ISIS Bomber
A conversation with Dian Yulia Novi, the first woman to be convicted for plotting a bomb attack in Indonesia, sheds light on the journey taken towards radicalisation and violence.