West Papuan freedom flotilla sets out for Lake Eyre

The West Paupan Freedom Flotilla sets out on the first leg of its epic journey from Lake Eyre to
the warm waters of Merauke, West Papua on July 16, 2013.
People from across Australia supporting their West Papuan brothers and sisters will meet Uncle
Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna (Lake Eyre) Elder and peacemaker, at the shores of Lake Eyre in South
Australia on July 20 to collect the ceremonial water to take on their journey to West Papua.
The arrival of West Papuan asylum seekers to Australia's shores over a decade ago meant that the
First Nations peoples of Australia and West Papua rediscovered their connection through song lines
and tradition from the time when the land masses were connected.
It was then that Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and Jacob Rumbiak, Foreign Minister of Federal Republic
of West Papua, called for boats to take the message of solidarity to the people of West Papua.
“This was one land; we still are one people, one soul.” said Uncle Kevin Buzzacott.
“This mission will reunite our Indigenous family link, which was broken by geological evolution
and colonial boundaries,” said Jacob Rumbiak.
Freedom Flotilla crew member Izzy Brown said, “We begin this historical journey from the desert
sands to stand strong against human rights violations and environmental destruction, this is the
beginning of a big movement and the world is watching.’’
Freedom Flotilla
THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA CONVOY, will travel through central and north eastern Australia and leave from
Cairns by boat on August 17.
Lake Eyre was returned to the Arabunna people in 2012 and the land around it has a long history
with land rights and anti uranium mining actions of creative resistance such as Roxstop in 1996,
Earth Dream in 1999 – 2012 and the Lizards Revenge protestival against the Olympic Dam mine in
2012. Following this tradition the Freedom Flotilla will also begin its epic journey from there.
The Freedom Flotilla is being crowd-funded, and has so far received support from environmental
and human rights activists, politicians, musicians, unions and West Papuans both in and outside of
West Papua.
Media contacts: media@freedomflotillawestpapua.org Ronny Kareni 0401 222 177 Izzy Brown 0410 535 896
For more information go to: http://freedomflotillawestpapua.org