New York City
It was a quiet Sunday evening, October 5, 2025, when Wilson Lalengke stood at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, surrounded by family and colleagues. The air was thick with anticipation. He wasn’t just boarding a flight—he was stepping into history. As Chairman of the Indonesian Citizen Journalists Association (Persatuan Pewarta Warga Indonesia – PPWI), Wilson had been invited to speak before the United Nations Fourth Committee in New York. His mission? To deliver a petition on behalf of those whose voices had long been silence.
The flight to New York was long, but for Wilson, it was a time of reflection. He thought about the stories he’d heard from victims of injustice, the journalists who risked everything to report the truth, and the communities across Asia and Africa still struggling for basic freedoms. He wasn’t just carrying a speech—he was carrying their hope.
When he arrived in New York on October 7, the city greeted him with its usual buzz. But inside the UN Headquarters, the atmosphere was solemn. Delegates from around the world gathered to discuss issues of decolonization, peacekeeping, and human rights. And there, amid the suits and diplomatic jargon, stood Wilson—a citizen journalist from Indonesia, ready to speak truth to powe
His address to the Fourth Committee was powerful. He spoke of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and the erosion of political freedoms. He didn’t mince words. He didn’t speak in abstractions. He told real stories—of real people. And in doing so, he reminded the world that justice isn’t just a policy—it’s a promise.
Over the next few days, Wilson met with UN officials, civil society leaders, and members of the international press. He shared Indonesia’s perspective, but more importantly, he listened. He listened to stories from Moroccan Sahara, from Myanmar, from the Congo. And in those conversations, he found common ground: the universal yearning for dignity, for voice, for peace.
And now, tonight—Saturday, October 11—Wilson is once again at an airport. This time, it’s JFK in New York. At 10:00 PM, he’ll board his Etihad Airways flight back to Jakarta. He’s tired, no doubt. But he’s also fulfilled. Because he didn’t just attend a meeting—he made a mark.
He’s expected to land in Jakarta on Monday morning, October 13, at 10:00 AM WIB. And when he does, he won’t just be returning as a traveler. He’ll be returning as a messenger—carrying with him the echoes of a global conversation, and the responsibility to keep that conversation alive at home.
Wilson’s journey reminds us that diplomacy isn’t just for politicians. It’s for anyone with the courage to speak, the humility to listen, and the conviction to act. From Jakarta to New York and back again, he’s shown that one voice—when grounded in truth—can resonate across ocean.
And that, perhaps, is the most powerful story of all. (Mr. Mc’Ro)
