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Home Front: Culture Wars
US blocks Free West Papua campaigner Benny Wenda from entry no reason given
2015-05-18
At 14:00, 13 May 2015 the United States (US) office of homeland security stopped West Papuan Independence leader Mr Benny Wenda from boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.

After check-in staff found an alert on their passport system, Mr Wenda was questioned by an official from the US Homeland Securities bureau office at London's Heathrow Airport.
Indonesia put a red notice on Benny Wenda after he escaped from prison in West Papua and ran through the jungle to freedom. He was granted asylum in the UK and after Interpol investigated and found Indonesia's claims to be politically motivated rubbish they dropped the red notice. Why is he now being flagged? Has Jakarta put more hostile intel on him??
After making phone calls the US official told Mr Wenda that his US visa had been revoked, but declined to say why. He told Mr Wenda to contact the US embassy.

Mr Wenda was issued the ten year business visa in October 2014 and has already made one visit to Congress staff on Capitol Hill in Washington using it.

Mr Wenda was set to embark on a speaker tour of California and Hawaii at the invitation of US groups supporting the Free West Papua Campaign. Pending an explanation from the US Government, the busy two week schedule of events is moving forward without Mr Wenda.
Posted by:anon1

#1  might be afraid of Indonesia - Indon military has crossed the border into PNG in December, plus airspace was invaded three days ago.

2 Indonesian fighters came up against an Australian Kingair aircraft near Wutung, West Sepik on Friday
Posted by: anon1   2015-05-18 07:32  

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