In 1999, on a planned official visit to Jayapura by then the Governor Philip Taku, and NCDC Officials, my application for Indonesian Visa was refused by the Embassy because I was a person of interest.
The current Minister for Housing, Justin Tkachenko represented me on behalf of the NCDC, wrote to the Indonesian Ambassador and informed the Indonesia Government that my actions and activity as a West Papuan leader was to promote indigenous identity.
I was allowed to be included in the delegation to visit Jayapura.
The three days in Jayapura my movement was monitored. There was someone cleaning the window outside my room door everyday for the three days we were there. Two nights I brought my cousin brother, who had been to Png, and speaks Pidgin fluently stay with me.
That incident scared the daylight out of me.
Its been 20 years, and I have never been to Jayapura since. I love to go there again, I longed to go and see my sisters and brothers who are older than me, who are passing on one by one. Love to see Enggros, Sentani, my grandmothers families, love to see my bapa Che Ben Merauje again, my dads only brother still alive, and visit my mothers last born sister Iche Samay Mustamu.
I would love to walk where I used to run when I was an innocent child. Base G, Kayubatu pante, lapagan timbul tengalam in Enggros, Abepura where my grandfather planted rows and rows of kangkung garden, Kayupulu the little sandy beach where the Church is.
Dream is free, I guess I just have to dream only.
Source: Facebook.com
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