Photo: Papuan human rights delegation visits London.
A delegation of Indigenous human rights defenders, journalists and artists from Papua, accompanied by Peace Brigades International, recently visited the European Union and United Kingdom.
The delegation included: Defe (PUSAKA, that aims to create and fight for a just life for indigenous peoples and the poor), Aida (journalist, JUBI Media, an independent, West Papua-based media outlet), Gege (Sa Perempuan Papua, that seeks to break the inequality for women and youth in eastern part of Indonesia), Costan (an artist and teacher), and Glenn (a craftsman and preserver of Papuan cultural artifacts).
PBI-UK notes: “During their time in London, the delegation spoke out about the South Papua National Strategic Project (NSP).”
Solidaritas Merauke, a broad coalition of Civil Society Organizations and people affected by Indonesia’s National Strategic Projects, says the South Papua National Strategic Project (PSN) has covered an area of 49,787 hectares through land expansion and deforestation from 2024 to present.
The tour included screenings of the 90-minute documentary ‘Pesta Babi: Colonialism in Our Time’ about the National Strategic Project. “Pesta Babi” can be translated as “pig feast”. You can watch the documentary here.
Last year, the National reported: “FORTY-ONE British companies, including household names like BP, Unilever and Barclays, are profiting from the ‘destruction’ of West Papua, a new study to be launched at the UK Parliament today has found.” The 52-page report Bringing it All Back Home: the role of British companies in the destruction of West Papua can be read here.
Indonesia and Canada
Last month, the Jakarta Globe reported: “Indonesia is inviting Canadian investors to explore opportunities in critical minerals, clean energy, food security and artificial intelligence as the two countries prepare to implement their comprehensive economic partnership agreement.”
In September 2025, Canada and Indonesia signed the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The Jakarta Globe reports that when Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto visited Ottawa in September 2025, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney told him that the tariff eliminations would “open up opportunities for Canadian businesses in food, agricultural, agri-food, pulp and paper sectors”.
The Canada-Indonesia CEPA is expected to enter into force later this year.
Global Affairs Canada has noted: “In 2025, Canadian Direct Investment in Indonesia was $4.5 billion, the third highest in Southeast Asia. Indonesian direct investment in Canada was $6.9 billion.” The Trade Commissioner Service of Canada indicates that there are six Canadian mining companies operating in Indonesia.
According to Government of Canada annual reports on the exports of “military goods”, during the period of 2012 to 2024 when 25 land and environmental defenders were killed in Indonesia, Canada exported almost $45 billion of so-called “military goods and technology” to Indonesia.
We continue to follow this.
Further reading: Irish President Catherine Connolly welcomes indigenous West Papuan Environmental and Human Rights Defenders to Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence and workplace of the President of Ireland.
