Age, Biography and Wiki
Benny Wenda was born on 17 August, 1974 in Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya, Indonesia, is a West Papuan activist. Discover Benny Wenda's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 49 years old?
Popular As |
N/A |
Occupation |
N/A |
Age |
49 years old |
Zodiac Sign |
Leo |
Born |
17 August, 1974 |
Birthday |
17 August |
Birthplace |
Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya, Indonesia |
Nationality |
Indonesia
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We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 17 August.
He is a member of famous activist with the age 49 years old group.
Benny Wenda Height, Weight & Measurements
At 49 years old, Benny Wenda height not available right now. We will update Benny Wenda's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.
Physical Status |
Height |
Not Available |
Weight |
Not Available |
Body Measurements |
Not Available |
Eye Color |
Not Available |
Hair Color |
Not Available |
Dating & Relationship status
He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.
Family |
Parents |
Not Available |
Wife |
Not Available |
Sibling |
Not Available |
Children |
Koteka Wenda |
Benny Wenda Net Worth
His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Benny Wenda worth at the age of 49 years old? Benny Wenda’s income source is mostly from being a successful activist. He is from Indonesia. We have estimated Benny Wenda's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.
Net Worth in 2024 |
$1 Million - $5 Million |
Salary in 2024 |
Under Review |
Net Worth in 2023 |
Pending |
Salary in 2023 |
Under Review |
House |
Not Available |
Cars |
Not Available |
Source of Income |
activist |
Benny Wenda Social Network
Timeline
His date of birth is not exactly known; in his website, he only wrote that he was born in 1970s.
Benny Wenda (born 1975) is a West Papuan independence leader and Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
He is an international lobbyist for the independence of West Papua from Indonesia.
He lives in exile in the United Kingdom.
In 1977 there was a rebellion of 15,000 Lani people in response to Indonesian military violence towards Papuans.
The Indonesian military retaliated, with aircraft bombing Lani villages in the highlands.
Those killed included many of Wenda's family.
During the bombing raids, one of Wenda's legs was severely injured leading to impaired growth.
Between 1977 and 1983 Benny and his family, along with thousands of other highlanders, lived in hiding in the jungle.
He was appointed leader by the elders in his tribe, and later after the Lani people surrendered to the Indonesian military he attended Cenderawasih University in Jayapura, studying Sociology.
Wenda became Secretary-General of Koteka Tribal Assembly (DeMMAK).
DeMMAK was established by highland tribal elders with the goal of working towards recognition and protection of the customs, values and beliefs of the tribal people of the West Papuan highlands.
It advocates independence from Indonesia, and rejects special autonomy or any other political compromise offered by the Indonesian government.
As Secretary-General of Demmak, Wenda represented the council of elders.
The organisation supported Papua Presidium Council (PDP) negotiations with Jakarta to the extent that they represented the aspiration of the Papuan peoples, which they claimed was independence from Indonesia.
Wenda was placed on trial in 2002 for allegedly leading a procession of people in an independence rally.
The demonstration turned violent, with Indonesian authorities alleging that those present torched two shops and murdered a policeman.
Wenda maintains that his arrest and the charges against him were politically motivated, coming at a time when authorities were clamping down on leaders of the independence movement.
This clampdown had led to the assassination a few months earlier of the leading pro-independence figure Theys Eluay.
Media reports state that Wenda was facing a 25-year jail sentence if found guilty.
He was also allegedly subjected to death threats whilst being held in custody.
Wenda escaped prison while on trial.
Helped by West Papua independence activists he fled across the border to neighbouring Papua New Guinea and was later reunited with his wife Maria at a refugee camp.
Several months after this he was helped by a European NGO to travel to the UK where he was granted political asylum.
In 2003 he was granted political asylum by the British government following his escape from custody while on trial.
He has acted as special representative of the Papuan people in the British Parliament, United Nations and European Parliament.
After arriving in the United Kingdom, Benny became the leading spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign, which was founded in 2004 by a group of pro-Papuan activists in Oxford.
The campaign's stated aims are to spread awareness of the human rights situation and independence aspirations of the people of West Papua, through lobbying governments and developing support throughout civil society.
The Free West Papua Campaign movement in the UK has grown to include permanent student groups at British universities and regional groups, as well as permanent offices in Oxford, the Hague and Port Moresby.
In 2011, the Indonesian Government issued an Interpol red notice seeking Mr Wenda's arrest and extradition.
However, after a campaign led by Fair Trials International, in 2012 Interpol removed the red notice after an investigation concluded that the allegations against Mr Wenda were "politically motivated and an abuse of the system" by the Indonesian Government.
Speaking after Interpol had announced it had removed the red notice from its database, Jago Russell, Fair Trials International's chief executive stated "Interpol should be used to fight serious crime but Indonesia has been misusing it to threaten a peaceful political activist".
In an interview with UK national The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Mr Wenda stated that he hoped attention would now "shift to the plight of my people in West Papua, who continue to suffer under an Indonesian regime that denies them almost every basic right that people in the West take for granted."
In February 2013 Wenda undertook a 'Freedom Tour' to the US, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, with the aim of raising awareness of the self-determination issue.
He was blocked from holding a speech at New Zealand national parliament.
Opposition parties accused the government of not wanting to upset the Indonesian Government, an important trading partner.
In 2017 he was appointed as the chairman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), a new organisation uniting the three main political organisations struggling for the independence of West Papua.
In 2020, the ULMWP announced a new constitution and government-in-waiting for the Republic of West Papua, with Wenda serving as interim president.
His presidency was disputed by some elements of the West Papua National Liberation Army (Indonesian: Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat), claiming his stay in the United Kingdom making his presidency illegitimate.
Wenda was born in the Baliem Valley, in the central highlands of Irian Jaya, Indonesia.