To: UK Parliament
Pressure Indonesia to hold a referendum on self-determination for West Papua
West Papua is a nation bordering Papua New Guinea to the East. In 1961, the country was promised independence by its former Dutch colonists; however in 1963 it was taken over by Indonesia and was illegally annexed during the so called “Act of Free Choice” in 1969. Indonesia handpicked just 1,026 West Papuans and forced them at gunpoint to vote in favour of integration with Indonesia.
West Papuans are still struggling for their right to self-determination, however, the Indonesian government continue to brutalise and persecute any West Papuan that calls for self-determination and freedom.
We must bring this matter to the attention of the UK public and our government to pressure the Indonesian government to hold a vote for independence for the people of West Papua.
West Papuans are still struggling for their right to self-determination, however, the Indonesian government continue to brutalise and persecute any West Papuan that calls for self-determination and freedom.
We must bring this matter to the attention of the UK public and our government to pressure the Indonesian government to hold a vote for independence for the people of West Papua.
Why is this important?
There is daily evidence of individuals being killed, tortured and imprisoned without trial by the Indonesian military and police. Since 1963, an estimated 500,000 West Papuans have died at the hands of the Indonesian occupying forces, more than 25% of the population.
Earlier this year there were mass arrests and torture of 116 Papuans in the Timika area. Villages were burned down and a number of villagers were shot and tortured. All this was committed by the Indonesian police and military.
In May the Indonesian police opened fire on West Papuans in Yahukimo who were peacefully fundraising for Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam. The police tortured and murdered a 17 year old West Papuan boy (also in Yahukimo) just for peacefully demonstrating for freedom. Even the raising of the West Papuan national flag is prohibited under Indonesian law and Papuans are imprisoned indefinitely for carrying out this act.
There are daily examples of the brutal genocide still being committed against the people of West Papua and if left on unnoticed, soon there will be no more Melanesians (indigenous people) left.
Please raise this issue on the floor of parliament and urge the government to support the plight of the people of West Papua and their fight for freedom.
To me it feels that our politicians only ‘care’ about human rights when there is political gain.
In the same time 500,000 West Papuans have been butchered by Indonesia (and this is a conservative estimate), 20,000 have died on both sides of the Israel Palestine conflict (of which 40% were combatants). Now every loss of life that is avoidable is tragic, but if you consider the amount of time spent debating the latter in Parliament, let alone various votes on statehood etc., how can one consider this proportionate or fair?
Whilst there are mass demonstrations and threat of boycotts against Israel, just 20 people turned up outside the Indonesian embassy earlier this year to protest. All were of Melanesian origin. We have full open diplomatic & trade relations with Indonesia, without so much of a whiff of boycott.
I have absolutely no link to West Papua but since learning of their plight, I have been appalled at the lack of awareness or action both by our government and by the public at large. We are talking about the most vulnerable members of the human race, some whose only encounters with ‘foreigners’ have been marked with violence and hatred. Is their case any less valid than those of the refugees seeking asylum? Unfortunately most of the Papuan’s have nowhere to go and the Indonesian government ensures a wall of secrecy around West Papua. No foreign press are allowed to enter the area.
Earlier this year there were mass arrests and torture of 116 Papuans in the Timika area. Villages were burned down and a number of villagers were shot and tortured. All this was committed by the Indonesian police and military.
In May the Indonesian police opened fire on West Papuans in Yahukimo who were peacefully fundraising for Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam. The police tortured and murdered a 17 year old West Papuan boy (also in Yahukimo) just for peacefully demonstrating for freedom. Even the raising of the West Papuan national flag is prohibited under Indonesian law and Papuans are imprisoned indefinitely for carrying out this act.
There are daily examples of the brutal genocide still being committed against the people of West Papua and if left on unnoticed, soon there will be no more Melanesians (indigenous people) left.
Please raise this issue on the floor of parliament and urge the government to support the plight of the people of West Papua and their fight for freedom.
To me it feels that our politicians only ‘care’ about human rights when there is political gain.
In the same time 500,000 West Papuans have been butchered by Indonesia (and this is a conservative estimate), 20,000 have died on both sides of the Israel Palestine conflict (of which 40% were combatants). Now every loss of life that is avoidable is tragic, but if you consider the amount of time spent debating the latter in Parliament, let alone various votes on statehood etc., how can one consider this proportionate or fair?
Whilst there are mass demonstrations and threat of boycotts against Israel, just 20 people turned up outside the Indonesian embassy earlier this year to protest. All were of Melanesian origin. We have full open diplomatic & trade relations with Indonesia, without so much of a whiff of boycott.
I have absolutely no link to West Papua but since learning of their plight, I have been appalled at the lack of awareness or action both by our government and by the public at large. We are talking about the most vulnerable members of the human race, some whose only encounters with ‘foreigners’ have been marked with violence and hatred. Is their case any less valid than those of the refugees seeking asylum? Unfortunately most of the Papuan’s have nowhere to go and the Indonesian government ensures a wall of secrecy around West Papua. No foreign press are allowed to enter the area.
