United Liberation Movement for West Papua

In October 2013, the West Papua National Council for Liberation made an unsuccessful application to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).[4] Indonesia had earlier been granted observer status in 2011 for Papua (province) and West Papua (province).[4] The MSG advised that West Papua independence organisations must first unite for any future applications to be considered.[5]

In December 2014, all West Papuan independence movement groups united under a single umbrella organisation, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua in Vanuatu.[5]

In February 2015, Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa according to Benny Wenda, stated he was shocked that West Papua is still not free.[6] In 2004, the Bishop had asked the UN to review the Act of Free Choice.[7]

In June 2015, the ULMWP was granted MSG observer status as representative of West Papuans outside the country while Indonesia was upgraded to associate member.[8][9]

In September 2016, at the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Prime Ministers of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Presidents of Nauru and Marshall Islands, called for UN action on alleged human rights abuses committed on West Papua's indigenous Melanesians.[10][11] The Solomon Islands stated that human rights abuses were linked to the pursuit for independence, and Tuvalu raised autonomy.[10] Indonesia responded that the allegations were false and fabricated.[10] The Solomon Islands said that Indonesia should give UN special rapporteurs access to West Papua to prove allegations were false.[12]

In October, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination initiated an early warning and urgent action procedure, and requested Indonesia to formally respond to allegations of racial violence by mid-November, where Indonesia never responded to the UN hearing.

Free West Papua protest in Melbourne, August 2012

In March 2017, at the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, Vanuatu made a joint statement on behalf of Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands raising human rights abuses and requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a report.[13][14] Indonesia replied that it rejected Vanuatu's allegations.[14] Also, a joint NGO statement was made raising the depopulation of indigenous West Papuans and health and medical services especially in remote areas.[15] Indonesia replied that the allegation of depopulation of Papuan community is simply baseless.[15]

In May 2017, at the Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) a joint statement by Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, and the Marshall Islands raised human rights abuses which were described as slow-motion genocide and called for a resolution to support self-determination.[16][17] Papua New Guinea suggested a fact-finding mission.[16][17] Guinea-Bissau compared the plight of West Papua to East Timor.[16][17]

In May 2017, eleven New Zealand parliamentarians from four political parties signed the Westminster Declaration, which calls for West Papua’s right to self-determination to be legally recognised through an internationally supervised vote.[18]

In September 2017, at the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, the Prime Ministers of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu once again raised human rights concerns and the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[19] Vanuatu called for a Human Rights Council investigation into killings and human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces and appealed to world leaders to support self-determination with the Solomon Islands also calling for self-determination.[19][20] Indonesia denied all the allegations and stated that West Papua would remain part of Indonesia.[20]

On 26 September 2017, ULMWP spokesperson Benny Wenda claimed that at the United Nations General Assembly he presented a secret petition for self-determination signed by 1.8 million West Papuans to the Special Committee on Decolonization.[21][22] The Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonisation, Rafael Ramírez, subsequently responded that he had not received a petition and even if one was presented it would be outside the mandate of the committee. Ramírez said that the committee accepts Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua and that his office had been "manipulated" for political purposes.[23][24][25]

On 1 December 2017, Benny Wenda was elected Chairman of the ULMWP following an organisational restructure. Jacob Rumbiak now serves as the International Spokesperson.[26]

Unlicensed graffiti in Vanuatu advocating for the liberation of West Papua

Vanuatu has been an advocate for the liberation of West Papua. The 11th Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai, spoke 'in support of West Papuan human rights and self-determination'.[31][32] Various other pacific leaders also provided their support at the United Nations.[33][34]

International non-governmental actors have also demonstrated their belief in the cause. The political graffiti to the right reflects the continued efforts by Vanuatu citizens in advocating for the liberation of West Papua. Indonesia has criticised Vanuatu for undermining Indonesian sovereignty,[34] but it has not fettered their ongoing political and cultural support.[35]

• Papua conflict
• West New Guinea dispute
• International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP)
• Benny Wenda

• ULMWP website
• Federal Republic of West Papua website
• West Papua National Coalition for Liberation facebook page
• National Parliament of West Papua website