12:22 PM |
Please help the brave women of Kup in PNG
Kup Women for Peace (KWP) are an outstanding group of women whom many of you will have heard of: for more than nine years, they have been working to stop tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea. These women are the face of courage. They have had an amazing impact on their communities and because of their efforts have reduced the endemic tribal conflict and improved the lives of women living in Simbu Province in the Highlands of PNG. Their work has involved intervening and stopping violence, improving community health, promoting social cohesion, training young women and men, maintaining peace and security by developing self sustaining village-based livelihoods, and finding local solutions to the long standing inter-generational violence. They are supported by a large number of dedicated volunteers and members.
After nine years of peace, at the end of last year, a devastating tribal fight involving more than 13 clans has broken out (over ownership of a gravel quarry), which has spiralled out of control and despite KWP attempts at mediation, is still on-going. Because of their work, the women have become targets of aggression. So far ten people have been killed hundreds of houses burnt to the ground; food gardens, and coffee trees have been destroyed; pigs killed, the KWP centre, schools and health centres wrecked, and large numbers of guns have been brought into the area. Most people have fled and are living in tents and temporary shelters in the mountains or along the Wahgi River. The fighting has had a high personal impact on the leaders of KWP: Mary Kini's brother, a community policeman, was shot; Angela's family is camping in a temporary warehouse building along with 50 families; Agnes' family has left the area to live with relatives along the Highway; many members are having problems finding food, as they cannot access their gardens, or they have been destroyed.
We know how disasters can be so morally defeating and in recent discussions with them they wondered why people will send money to tsunami victims but not victims of internal conflict. They have asked their partners and friends for help. We promised to make an appeal to people to try and show solidarity with them. We asked them what they needed and they said, "Your friendship, your prayers, for us and any money you can send to help our members rebuild their lives and pay for their kids go to other schools." We need to celebrate their courage and help our sisters out. They have lost members of their group, their office was burned down, their livelihoods destroyed. The families don't have money for school fees or even clothing and books.
KWP hope to be able to get through the current crisis and plan to continue their peace building work. Oxfam is supporting them to relocate their operations to Kerowagi, where they will offer services for women victims of conflict and violence. However, they still need immediate relief funding to enable the staff and volunteers to pay for school fees and find food and shelter while they are unable to return to their homes.
We need to help them. This is a personal appeal, not project funding: we who have worked closely with them for many years, trust their judgment and ability to share whatever we can give to them to get their members back on their feet.
Please use your networks to send money to them, via the Oxfam special support account. We ask our Pacific sisters (and brothers) could you please send donations to show our sympathy and support. This is not a formal appeal from the agencies where we work, but Oxfam has agreed to let us use their funding mechanisms... it's about caring for those who have given so much to their community and are facing hardship. Hope you can help. Please send messages of solidarity too. And feel free to pass this message onto other colleagues and networks.
Virisila Buadromo, Executive Director, Fiji Women's Rights Movement
Sarah Garap, PNG Mentor and Supporter and co-founder of Kup Women for Peace and Meri I Kirap Sapotim
Diane Goodwillie, long term Pacific women's rights advocate
Eleanor Jackson, Overseas Program Manager – PNG, International Women's Development Agency
Wendy Lee, PNG Programme Manager, Oxfam New Zealand
(Please see attached deposit information)
Naeemah Khan
Programme Manager
Fiji Women's Rights Movement
G.P. O. Box 14194
Suva
Fiji Islands
21 Knollys Street
Suva
Tel-(679) 3312711/3313156
Fax-(679) 3313466
Mobile-(679) 7080-989
The Fiji Women's Rights Movement is a multiethnic and multicultural non-governmental organisation committed to removing discrimination against women through institutional reforms and attitudinal changes. Our vision is for the women of Fiji to be free from all forms of discrimination, have equal access to opportunities and to live in a healthy environment where the principles of feminism, democracy, good governance, multi culturalism and human rights prevail.
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Lisa Williams-Lahari
cell: (64) 0210642704
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