Episode 22 - Esther Haluk - West Papuan Activist - a podcast by Dr. Mere Tari Sovick

West Papuans have struggled for their freedom since they were annexed by Indonesia and  robbed of their right to a fair referendum in 1969. While the independence struggle continues, it is the voice of the West Papuan women that have gone unheard.  

In this episode, we talk to one Indigenous West Papuan Activist, Esther Haluk to understand more about the compound plights the Papuan women face and why their voices and rights are being silenced.  

Esther Haluk is one of the many indigenous West Papuan women activists who have made it her mission to continue to fight for the freedom for her people by telling her story so the world can hear about the continuing mistreatments and  abuse against the indigenous Papuans by the Indonesian military forces. Esther, is also a lecturer at the Walter Post Theological Seminary in Jayapura, where she teaches Gender studies and conducts research relating to women and children issues. Esther comes from Wamena, the capital town of the Jayawijaya Regency in Papua's highlands, in the Baliem Valley. She comes from the Dani tribe of the central highlands  of West Papua

CREDITS: 

https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/struggle-self-determination-west-papua-1969-present/

https://www.freewestpapua.org/info/history-of-west-papua/ 

https://www.freewestpapua.org/info/history-of-west-papua/

SBS World News 

Enough Is Enough - Testimonies of Papua Women Victims of Violence and Human Rights Violations 1963-2009

https://www.ictj.org/sites/default/files/ICTJ-IDN-Enough-Women_Papua-Report-2010.pdf

Song - Freedom by George Telek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYKnlg5hQOo

Further episodes of Coming to the Mat

Further podcasts by Dr. Mere Tari Sovick

Website of Dr. Mere Tari Sovick