The following essay by  Surya Anta was written in response to a series of questions, I emailed him yesterday, August 4, 2011.

“I am here to give solidarity, not as a provocateur”*

Surya Anta, Jakarta, Indonesia, member Peoples Liberation Party

On August 2, 2011 I and Kholis Annasir from the student group Pusat Perjuangan Mahasiswa untuk Pembebasan Nasional (PEMBEBASAN – LIBERATION) attended a meeting to organize an action on the issue of Papua. The action was being organized by the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat – KNPB). We were invited to attend by Okto, the coordinator of the planned action. I was representing the Peoples’ Liberation Party (Partai Pembebasan Rakyat – PPR). I learned from the aksi coordinator after I was released that we were the only ones there providing political and organizational solidarity. Tommy from the human rights group Kontras was there to monitor the action.

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