Benny Wenda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benny Wenda
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Speaking at the launch of IPWP in the Houses of Parliament, London, October 2008
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| Interim President of the ULMWP Provisional Government (In Exile) |
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| In office December 2020 – September 2023 |
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| President of ULMWP | |
| Assumed office November 2023 disputed with Menase Tabuni |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya, Indonesia |
| Children | Septinus Wenda |
| Residences | Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom |
Benny Wenda (born 1975) is a leader from West Papua. He is the Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). This group works for West Papua to become independent from Indonesia.
Mr. Wenda lives outside his home country, in the United Kingdom. In 2003, the British government gave him political asylum. This means he was allowed to stay in the UK because he was in danger in his home country. He had escaped from prison while on trial.
Benny Wenda has spoken for the people of West Papua in important places. These include the British Parliament, the United Nations, and the European Parliament. In 2017, he became the chairman of the ULMWP. This organization brings together three main groups that want West Papua to be independent.
In 2020, the ULMWP announced plans for a new government for the Republic of West Papua. Benny Wenda served as its interim president. His role was later taken by Menase Tabuni in September 2023. However, in November 2023, after a meeting in Jayapura, Benny Wenda was again named President of ULMWP. This led to a disagreement over who was the true leader.
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Early Life and Challenges
Benny Wenda was born in 1975 in the Baliem Valley. This area is in the central highlands of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. The exact date of his birth is not known.
When he was young, his home area faced conflict. In 1977, there was a rebellion by the Lani people. The Indonesian military responded with force, bombing villages. Many of Wenda's family members were killed. During these attacks, one of his legs was badly hurt, which affected its growth. From 1977 to 1983, Benny and his family, along with many others, hid in the jungle. Later, after the Lani people stopped fighting, he went to Cenderawasih University in Jayapura. He studied Sociology there.
Working for His People
Benny Wenda became a leader in the Koteka Tribal Assembly (DeMMAK). This group was started by older tribal leaders. Their goal was to protect the customs, values, and beliefs of the tribal people in the West Papuan highlands. They wanted West Papua to be independent from Indonesia. They did not agree with any plans from the Indonesian government that would keep West Papua under Indonesian rule. As Secretary-General of DeMMAK, Wenda spoke for the council of elders.
His Time in Prison
In 2002, Benny Wenda was put on trial. He was accused of leading a rally for independence. He believes his arrest and the accusations against him were because of his political work. At that time, authorities were trying to stop leaders of the independence movement.
While on trial, Benny Wenda escaped from prison. People who supported West Papuan independence helped him. He fled across the border to Papua New Guinea. Later, he met his wife, Maria, at a refugee camp. A few months after that, a European organization helped him travel to the UK. There, he was given political asylum.
Interpol and Freedom
In 2011, the Indonesian Government asked Interpol to arrest Benny Wenda. However, after a group called Fair Trials International campaigned for him, Interpol removed the request in 2012. An investigation found that the accusations against Mr. Wenda were "politically motivated." This meant Indonesia was misusing the system.
After Interpol removed the request, Jago Russell, from Fair Trials International, said that Interpol should be used for serious crimes, not to threaten peaceful activists. Benny Wenda told The Daily Telegraph newspaper that he hoped people would now focus on the struggles of his people in West Papua. He said they suffer under a system that denies them basic rights.
The Free West Papua Campaign
After arriving in the United Kingdom, Benny Wenda became a main spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign. This campaign started in 2004 in Oxford. Its goal is to tell people about human rights issues and the desire for independence in West Papua. They do this by talking to governments and getting support from people around the world. The campaign has grown and now has student groups at British universities and offices in Oxford, The Hague, and Port Moresby.
In February 2013, Wenda went on a 'Freedom Tour'. He visited the US, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. His aim was to raise awareness about the right of people to decide their own future. He was not allowed to speak at the New Zealand parliament. Some political parties said this decision went "against the spirit of Parliament."
In April 2013, Benny Wenda, along with the Lord Mayor of Oxford and local MP Andrew Smith, opened a new office for the Free West Papua Campaign. The Indonesian Government was very unhappy about this. They called the British Ambassador to Indonesia to explain why the UK allowed the office to open.
In May 2013, Wenda spoke at the Sydney Opera House as part of the TEDx series. He received a standing ovation from 2,500 people. His speech again made the Indonesian authorities angry. They complained to the Australian government very quickly after his talk.
International Parliamentarians for West Papua
Benny Wenda helped start the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP). He did this with British MP Andrew Smith and Lord Richard Harries. This group includes politicians from different parties. It started in London in October 2008. Politicians from the UK, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Vanuatu attended.
The IPWP works to get support from politicians worldwide. Their main goal is to put enough pressure on the United Nations to hold a new vote for West Papua's future. The group has also held events in the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament, and Papua New Guinea.
International Lawyers for West Papua
In April 2009, Benny Wenda also launched the International Lawyers for West Papua. This group of international lawyers met in Guyana in South America. Their goal is to create a legal plan to show why West Papua should be able to decide its own future. They also aim to show that Indonesia's control over West Papua is not legal. When this group was launched, Guyana also announced its support for West Papuan independence.
Awards and Recognition
Benny Wenda has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize two times.
In 2019, the Oxford City Council in the UK gave him the Freedom of Oxford award. The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Craig Simmons, said the award was "well-deserved." He added that Mr. Wenda was "contributing so much both locally and on the international stage."
The Lani Singers
Benny Wenda and his wife, Maria, perform traditional West Papuan music together. Their music group is called The Lani Singers. In 2008, they released their first album, called Ninalik Ndawi (Freedom Song). The album received good reviews in newspapers like The Guardian and The Observer. It was also reviewed in music magazines such as fRoots, Songlines, and The Wire.
The group has been interviewed and performed live on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio London. They have also played at music festivals like Musicport Festival, Glastonbury Festival, and the Thames Festival in London.
Family Life
Benny and Maria met while they were studying in West Papua. They got married in 1999. Since the British Government gave them political asylum, they have lived in Oxford with their children.
Documentary Film
A full-length documentary film about Benny Wenda was released in 2015. It is called The Road to Home. This film won the 'Best Documentary' award at the 2016 Amsterdam Film Festival.
See also
In Spanish: Benny Wenda para niños
- List of people granted political asylum
- Papua conflict
