Benny Wenda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benny Wenda
Speaking at the launch of IPWP in the Houses of Parliament, London, October 2008
Interim President of the ULMWP Provisional Government (In Exile)
In office December 2020 – September 2023
President of ULMWP
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2023 disputed with Menase Tabuni
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 works to help West Papua become independent from Indonesia. He is the Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). Benny Wenda lives in the United Kingdom because he was given political asylum there in 2003. This means the British government allowed him to stay and protected him. He had escaped from prison while on trial in West Papua.

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 group brings together different organizations that want West Papua to be independent.

In 2020, the ULMWP announced a plan for a new government for the Republic of West Papua. Benny Wenda was named its temporary president. However, some groups disagreed with his leadership. They said he should not be president because he lives in the United Kingdom. He was replaced by Menase Tabuni in September 2023. But in November 2023, Benny Wenda became president of the ULMWP again after a meeting in Jayapura. This caused a disagreement over who should lead the group.

Benny Wenda's Early Life

Benny Wenda was born in the Baliem Valley. This area is in the central highlands of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. His exact birth date is not known, but he was born in the 1970s.

In 1977, there was a rebellion by 15,000 Lani people. This happened because of violence from the Indonesian military against Papuans. The Indonesian military fought back by bombing Lani villages. Many of Benny Wenda's family members were killed. During these bombings, one of Benny Wenda's legs was badly hurt. This injury affected how his leg grew. From 1977 to 1983, Benny and his family hid in the jungle. Thousands of other highlanders also hid with them. Later, his tribe's elders chose him as a leader. After the Lani people stopped fighting, he went to Cenderawasih University in Jayapura. There, he studied Sociology.

Becoming a Political Leader

Benny Wenda became the Secretary-General of the Koteka Tribal Assembly (DeMMAK). This group was started by tribal elders from the highlands. Their goal was to protect the customs, values, and beliefs of the tribal people. They also wanted West Papua to be independent from Indonesia. DeMMAK did not agree with any special deals offered by the Indonesian government. As Secretary-General, Benny Wenda spoke for the council of elders. The group supported talks between the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) and Jakarta. They believed these talks should lead to West Papua's independence.

Benny Wenda's Imprisonment

In 2002, Benny Wenda was put on trial. He was accused of leading a rally for independence. Authorities said the protest became violent. They claimed that two shops were burned and a policeman was killed. Benny Wenda says his arrest and the charges were politically motivated. He believes this happened because authorities were trying to stop independence leaders. A few months earlier, a main pro-independence leader, Theys Eluay, had been killed. News reports said Benny Wenda could face 25 years in jail if found guilty. He also said he received death threats while in prison.

Benny Wenda escaped from prison during his trial. 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 aid group helped him travel to the UK. There, he was given political asylum.

Interpol's Role in Benny Wenda's Case

In 2011, the Indonesian Government asked Interpol to arrest Benny Wenda. They wanted him sent back to Indonesia. However, a group called Fair Trials International started a campaign. In 2012, Interpol removed the request for his arrest. An investigation found that the accusations against Benny Wenda were "politically motivated." Interpol said Indonesia was misusing its system.

After Interpol removed the request, Jago Russell spoke about it. He is the chief executive of Fair Trials International. He said, "Interpol should be used to fight serious crime. But Indonesia has been misusing it to threaten a peaceful political activist." Benny Wenda also spoke to The Daily Telegraph newspaper. He said he hoped people would now focus on the struggles of his people in West Papua. He said they "continue to suffer under an Indonesian regime." He believes the regime 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 share information about human rights issues in West Papua. It also aims to raise awareness about the desire for independence. The campaign works by talking to governments and getting support from people. The Free West Papua Campaign has grown in the UK. It now has student groups at universities and regional groups. It also has offices in Oxford, The Hague, and Port Moresby.

In February 2013, Benny Wenda went on a 'Freedom Tour.' He visited the US, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. His goal was to raise awareness about the issue of self-determination. This means the right of people to choose their own government. He was not allowed to speak at the New Zealand parliament. Opposition parties said the government did not want to upset Indonesia. Indonesia is an important trading partner for New Zealand. Politicians from the Greens, Labour, and Mana said the decision was "against the spirit of Parliament."

In April 2013, Benny Wenda opened a new office for the Free West Papua Campaign. The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mohammed Abassi, and local MP Andrew Smith joined him. The opening made the Indonesian Government angry. The British Ambassador to Indonesia was called to explain why the UK allowed the office to open.

In May 2013, Benny Wenda spoke at the Sydney Opera House. This was part of the TEDx series. He received a standing ovation from 2,500 people. His speech again made Indonesian authorities angry. They complained to the Australian government just hours after he spoke.

International Parliamentarians for West Papua

Inaugural meeting of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, 2008

Benny Wenda helped start the International Parliamentarians for West Papua. He did this with British MP Andrew Smith and Lords peer Richard Harries. This group includes politicians from different parties. It started in London in October 2008. British politicians like Lembit Öpik and Baron Avebury attended. Politicians from Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Vanuatu were also there.

The group works to get support from politicians worldwide. Its main goal is to put enough pressure on the United Nations. They want the UN to hold a new vote on the Act of Free Choice. This vote decided West Papua's future in the past. The group has also held launch events in the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament, and Papua New Guinea.

International Lawyers for West Papua

In April 2009, Benny Wenda launched the International Lawyers for West Papua. This group held important meetings with international lawyers in Guyana, South America. The group aims to create a legal plan for West Papuan self-determination. They also want to show that Indonesia's "occupation of West Papua" is against the law. When this group 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, he received the Freedom of Oxford award. This award was given by the Oxford City Council in the UK. Lord Mayor of Oxford Craig Simmons said the award was "well-deserved." He also said Benny Wenda was "contributing so much both locally and on the international stage."

The Lani Singers

Benny Wenda and his wife Maria make traditional West Papuan music. They perform as The Lani Singers. In 2008, they released their first album. It was called Ninalik Ndawi, which means "Freedom Song." The album received good reviews in national newspapers like The Guardian and The Observer. Music magazines like fRoots, Songlines, and The Wire also reviewed it. The group has done interviews and live shows on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio London. They have also performed at Musicport Festival, Glastonbury Festival, and the Thames Festival in London.

Family Life

Benny and Maria met while they were studying in West Papua. They have been married since 1999. After the British Government gave them political asylum, they have lived in Oxford with their children.

Documentaries About Benny Wenda

A full-length documentary about Benny Wenda, called The Road to Home, came out in 2015. It won the 'Best Documentary' award at the 2016 Amsterdam Film Festival.

Another documentary, "Please Pray for West Papua," was released in 2020. It includes an interview with Benny Wenda. This film was chosen for the Lift Off Global Network film festivals in Toronto 2021 and Manchester 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Benny Wenda para niños

• List of people granted political asylum
• Papua conflict