IHRC letter on censorship of West Papua message at Asia Pacific Festival

Submitted by Anonymous on 13 February 2007 - 7:04am

Civil & Human Rights
Indigenous Struggles
Local

His Excellency,

Amris Hassan,

Ambassador for Indonesia,

P.O.Box 3543,

Wellington.

Associate Professor Jack Body,

New Zealand School of Music,

Victoria University of Wellington,

P.O. Box 600,

Wellington

12 February, 2007

Dear Sirs,

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee has been shocked to learn that composer Martin Wesley-Smith was pressured not to play his piece “Papua Merdeka” at the Asia Pacific Festival “Wired” last weekend.

We understand that Embassy representatives advised the organisers of their opposition to the item being included in the concert and that the organisers chose to seek the withdrawal of the item.

We believe this kind of artistic and political censorship is deplorable in a festival designed to celebrate the diversity of the peoples and the music of our region.

We doubt that either of you would deny that there has been a long-standing conflict in West Papua which has resulted in the loss tens of thousands of lives. At this time there are many well-documented reports that there is a humanitarian crisis in the Puncak Jaya region where thousands of people have fled from military conflict only to face new dangers from lack of food, shelter and medicine.

West Papuan community and religious representatives have been promoting a united call for a peaceful dialogue as a way to work towards a resolution of the conflict and the many health and environmental problems faced by the people. But if this dialogue is to take place it must be held in an atmosphere where fundamental human rights and freedoms are upheld including freedom of movement, freedom of speech, and freedom of association.

So it is especially disturbing to us that a music composition has been banned because the work ‘freedom’ or ‘merdeka’ is included in its title. 'Freedom' or 'merdeka' can be understood in many ways but at the core is surely a universal human aspiration to be in control of one’s own destiny. This is therefore a most fitting theme for cultural expression in music.

We sincerely hope that the reaction to this unwarranted ban has caused the festival organisers and the Embassy to rethink their decisions with respect to Martin Wesley-Smith’s composition.

Yours sincerely,

Maire Leadbeater

(for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee)

Related

http://www.ihrc.revolt.org/