AustLit

When her brother became involved with the OPM (Free Papua Movement) and his band 'The Black Brothers' recorded songs critical of the Indonesian government, Ipa's family moved from their home in Jayapura to Jakarta, where they would be less conspicuous. Before long, though, they had to move again, this time to Port Moresby, where they continued to campaign for independence for West Papua (West Irian). Relations between PNG and Indonesia were strained, however, and four months later, the PNG government gave them five days' notice to leave the country. Now married to a member of the band, Ipo travelled with them to the Netherlands, and later to Vanuatu.

Five years later they were told by the Vanuatu government that they would have to leave the country, and when they could get neither the papers nor the money to do so, the men were imprisoned. Finally the Australia Council for Overseas Aid arranged for them to come to Australia, and in 1944 they were the first West Papuans to receive refugee status in this country.