This is the statement made by Sem Karoba when he was giving his first talk at the gathering

in his village at Kelela sub-district of Baliem Regency. He was quoted as saying: 

"Remember, this war is not the war against the Indonesians because they are Indonesians and their race

is different. It is not because Indonesia is an Islam country. It is not only because we were 

part of the Dutch colony at the time and after the independence of Indonesia. The core

issue is that Indonesia is wrong from the beginning. All Indonesia is doing in West Papua

is to maintain its dirty politics and exploitation as well as murder in this land. We are

fighting against lies and political manipulations. We are going to win because the TRUTH

is TRUTH and the TRUTH always proves itself to be true. Nothing can prevent the TRUTH to

prove itself whatsoever. When you are on the side of TRUTH, please do not be afraid. 

The world is watching how mad Indonesia is, that Indonesia is the biggest liar on this

planet at this level of human civilisation. The world will not ignore you as it did 

for East Timor. Be brave, be confident, be proactive and be persistent in demanding what

you really what. This is called democracy, 'The people express their opinions freely as

they want.' Mr. Wahid is the Father of Democracy for Indonesia. He welcomes your voice to

be channeled democratically, including the voice for independence of West Papua."

He criticised the murders by the Indonesian police in Nabire, Timika, Manokwari, 

Port Numbay, Maroke, and Sorong in this year. He warned his people to be on alert 

because the Indonesian army and police are the same, they both kill anybody they want to

kill, regardless of civilians or army. He told his people that: "This struggle is your

struggle. Do not put any hope to the foreigners to help you in your struggle. This struggle

is for your country, you future. You cannot hope others to help you. You must sacrifice

what you have in your time, energy, skill, knowledge, and money. If you want to be free

you have to give all you have for the struggle. There should be no conspiracy between 

the Papuan politicians with multinational companies such as Freeport and Conocco. There 

should no money coming from neo-colonial President Wahid for the Papua National Congress

II. All funds should come from the people of West Papua. When you play with the fire,

you will get burn. There is no gray colour in politics. There is only black or white, 

not in between. If you want independence, you cannot ask for money from Indonesia nor

Freeport. When people do not support the struggle, the Papuan politicians will ask your

enemies to fund the campaigns for the independence. This means the campaign means nothing

to the world.