TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - Members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) organization located in Papua admitted they had no knowledge of OPM campaign coordinator Benny Wenda’s activities overseas.

"That’s Benny Wenda’s diplomatic affairs. We from the military council are more focused on West Papua issues in the nation," said Jonah Weyah, spokesperson for the OPM Defense Military Army Board yesterday.

Previously, Benny was a speaker at the "Tedx Sydney 2013" event held by Carriageworks, at the Sydney Opera House in Australia on May 4. He made a speech about Indonesia’s repression of the Free West Papua group, which was then uploaded to YouTube on May 9.

"Honestly, we don’t know what Benny’s next move will be," Jonah added. This was Benny’s second act following the establishment of the OPM branch office in Oxford, the United Kingdom.

Head of the National Police international relations division, Inspector General Boy Salamuddin said that Benny, who was granted asylum by the United Kingdom in 2003, is still a fugitive for the Abepura attack that occurred in 2002.

Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, Najib Riphat, downplayed Benny’s speech by saying that the event was not specifically aimed at discussing Papua’s issues. It was an event that discussed human rights issues. No Australian government officials were present during the event.

JERRY OMONA | WAYAN AGUS | INDRA WIJAYA | NATALIA SANTI | RAJU FEBRIAN