Monthly Archives: September 2013

Freedom Flotilla to West Papua: We Are Unarmed

One small yacht, the Pog, has set sail west from Thursday Island towards West Papua. Her crew, a dedicated group of six from Australia, New Zealand, Kenya and West Papua are determined to complete their mission to build global solidarity and highlight the abuses of human rights and land rights carried out under the Indonesian occupation of West Papua.

Freedom Flotilla co-founder Izzy Brown responded to statements made to Fairfax yesterday by Captain Goeroh Ardianto, Indonesian Navy Spokesperson suggesting that the Freedom Flotilla may potentially be armed, We come in peace, bearing no arms. We have been absolutely clear about this from the beginning of our journey at the sacred mound springs of Lake Eyre in Arabunna country. We are letting them know our location via our satellite tracker which is available for the world to see up on our website.

If one unarmed yacht carrying six people justifies a military response from Indonesia, what would they have done if their country was invaded by tens of thousands of paratroopers, marines and army personnel as happened to our land West Papua in Operation Trikora in 1962?, questioned Jacob Rumbiak last night.

Ruben Blake responded to claims from Captain Ardianto that the 2,500 troops reported to have been shipped into Merauke on August 28th, 2013 was just a normal rotation, What kind of normal situation is a constant military presence of atleast 5000 military personel in a town of 80,000? The massive troop numbers are there to be mobilised against the local population, and clearly they are on alert at the moment not only to stop our boat, but to be ready to crack down against any peaceful demonstrations or welcoming ceremonies taking place.

The troops arrived in Merauke on the same day locals gathered to prepare a welcome ceremony and garlands of flowers to present to the Freedom Flotilla participants, and the same day that in Sorong four customary leaders were arrested and charged with treason after organising a congregation to pray for the safe passage of the Freedom Flotilla.

Captain Ardianto stated further to Fairfax yesterday that if the group was unarmed, well try to have some dialogue with them. Izzy Brown responded last night, We are unarmed and we very much welcome the opportunity for dialogue. We have satellite phones and a UHF radio on board The Pog and we want very much to have an open dialogue whereby we can request safe passage to Merauke to bring the sacred mound spring water from the Australian desert to West Papua.

The Pog is expected to reach the West Papuan border in the coming days. Daily updates are being recorded direct via satellite by 3CR Community Radio in Melbourne and are available as Pogcasts on the website, http://www.freedomflotillawestpapua.org

ENDS

Scoop Media

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Freedom Flotilla to West Papua: We Are Unarmed

September 10, 2013 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom The Schaumburg Boomers rallied back from a three-run ninth inning deficit to defeat the Florence Freedom 9-8 in ten innings Tuesday night at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium. The win gave the Boomers a series sweep over the Freedom and advanced them to the Frontier League Championship Series. The Freedom loss ended their season.

Schaumburg drew first blood in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Sean Mahley off of Freedom starter Michael Oros that put the Boomers up 1-0 after half an inning.

The Freedom wasted no time rallying back in the bottom of the first. Cole Miles led off with a single against Boomer Starter Seth Webster, then stole second and came around to score on a Byron Wiley single to tie the game at one.

The Boomers regained the lead, 2-1, in the second on an RBI single by Jordan Dean. However, Florence would once again tie the game in the bottom of the third on a solo home run by Byron Wiley that knotted the game at two runs a side.

Schaumburg broke through in the fourth inning against Oros. Frank Pfister hit a leadoff home run that gave the Boomers a 3-2 lead, then three batters later, centerfielder Alexi Colon hit a two-run homer that pushed the lead to 5-2. Oros exited after Colon's homer and gave way to Brandon Mathes who pitched 3.2 innings of shutout ball to give the Freedom a chance.

Trailing by three and facing elimination, the Freedom rallied back immediately in the bottom of the fourth. Florence scored two runs in the inning on an RBI double by Aljay Davis and a run-scoring groundout by Junior Arrojo that cut the lead to 5-4.

The Freedom took the lead in the sixth inning against reliever Tony Delmonico. Delmonico walked the leadoff man than gave up an RBI double to Davis that scored Jim Jacquot to tie it. After Arrojo sacrificed the runner to third, Miles drove the run in with a single to put the Freedom up 6-5.

Florence tacked on two more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by David Harris and Davis to push the Freedom lead to 8-5.

Jorge Marban came on in the eighth and stranded two on base but got out of the inning without allowing a run.

In the ninth, he hit Steve McQuail to lead off the inning. Brian McConkey followed with a home run that brought the Boomers to within a run at 8-7. Marban stuck out the next batter before walking Justin Vasquez with one out. Vasquez took second on a passed ball and third on a Mike Valadez groundout. He would score on Jim Jacquot's second passed ball of the inning to tie the game at eight.

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Freedom Fall to Boomers 9-8 in Ten to End Season