UN Secretary-General on West Papua: NGO solidarity statement

Statement from the West Papua solidarity gathering at Nga Wai o Horotiu, Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

8 September 2011

We are very encouraged by the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban ki-Moon, at a media conference in Auckland yesterday, 7 September 2011, that West Papua should be discussed by the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

Noting with appreciation the Secretary-General’s statement that “whether you are an independent state or a non-self-governing territory or whatever, the human rights is inalienable and a fundamental principle of the United Nations”, and “we will do all to ensure” that the human rights of the people of West Papua are respected, we therefore call on:

The United Nations Secretary General to act without delay, and:
• appoint a Special Representative to investigate the situation in West Papua – to review the circumstances and outcome of the 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’, as well as the contemporary situation; and
• use his good offices to persuade the Indonesian government to allow free access to West Papua for media representatives from the international community and for non-governmental human rights organisations.
The Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in Auckland to act without delay, and:

• send a fact-finding mission to West Papua to investigate the human rights situation;
• support the West Papuan people in their call for peaceful dialogue with the Indonesian government;
• grant observer status to West Papuan representatives who support the people of West Papua’s right of self-determination; and
• recommend to the United Nations General Assembly that West Papua be put back on the agenda of the Decolonisation Committee.
The New Zealand government to act without delay, and:

• play a role in mediating and beginning the process of peaceful dialogue between West Papuan representatives and the Indonesian government; and
• cease all military ties with Indonesia until the human rights of the people of West Papua are respected.
Civil society to:

• support the West Papuan call for peace and justice, and for a process of peaceful dialogue with the Indonesian government; and
• take every opportunity to support West Papuans working for peace, justice, human rights and environmental sustainability.
Participating organisations: New Zealand non-governmental organisations Bicultural Desk of the Auckland Catholic Diocese, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, Christian World Service, CORSO Inc., Indonesia Human Rights Committee, Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, Peace Movement Aotearoa, Philippine Migrant Centre, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Aotearoa Section; New Zealand based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji; and Australian non-governmental organisations Australia West Papua Association (Sydney), Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, Medical Association for Prevention of War, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre (Australian Province), Pax Christi Australia and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Australia Section.
ENDS

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