VIDEO: West Papua struggle intensifies under Prabowo's leadership

The West Papuan independence movement, led by exiled leader Benny Wenda, has warned that Indonesia's current president, Prabowo Subianto, is reviving the harsh legacy of former dictator Suharto.

Wenda, who leads the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), accused Prabowo of escalating violence and military occupation in the region.

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Prabowo's government is accused of ethnic cleansing in West Papua, with thousands displaced by Indonesian military operations. Wenda argues that the president's actions mirror those of Suharto, who orchestrated widespread atrocities during his regime, including the forced settlement of non-Papuans in West Papua.

Prabowo's recent visits to the region coincide with deforestation projects and a new transmigration plan, raising concerns over the exploitation of West Papua's resources. Wenda continues to call for a new referendum on self-determination, arguing that the 1969 vote was rigged under threat of violence.

As the situation worsens, the West Papuan struggle for independence is gaining global attention.

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