Arso Gombo, an Indigenous West Papuan from the Walak tribe, serves as a Community Health and Cultural Wellness advocate with West Papua Campaign USA, carrying the strength, memory, and unbroken spirit of his homeland in Wamena, Papua. Raised in a family grounded in faith and resilience with three brothers and a sister who became pastors and another who serves in the West Papua Army. Arso learned early what it means to protect his people and stand for justice.

Before officially joining WPC‑USA, he supported the West Papuan diaspora across Washington State and served as an event organizer with IMAPA USA, where he helped coordinate student community events that strengthened cultural connection and advocacy. Also his earlier work as a construction team lead further shaped his teamwork, communication, and human‑service skills. Arso holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Agriculture from Corban University in Oregon. His commitment to Papuan freedom is rooted in lived experience witnessing friends and family beaten, killed, or threatened simply for being Papuan and was solidified in 2015 when he survived a frightening incident he believes was an intentional attack while walking home from an evening English class. Though the experience left him shaken and forced him to abandon his studies, it strengthened his resolve to speak out. Today, Arso channels his pain into purpose, working so that no Papuan must endure what he and countless others have faced over more than six decades of systemic oppression.

Outside his advocacy, he finds peace in gardening, playing traditional guitar, fishing, hiking, volleyball, soccer, and gathering with loved ones simple joys that connect him to people everywhere.

Through his work with WPC‑USA, Arso hopes to help build a world where Papuans, like all people, can live free, safe, and sovereign on their ancestral land, and where their struggle is recognized as part of our shared human responsibility to protect dignity and freedom for all.