Recognize the petition with 1.8 million signatures of West Papuans for a free vote on self-determination
26 January 2018

We, the undersigned organizations, urge the United Nations to accept and recognize the West Papuan People’s Petition, bearing the signatures of 1.8 million West Papuans (estimated to be 70.88% of the West Papuan population) with a demand for referendum on independence.

The West Papuan People’s Petition was launched on 5 April 2017 by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and ran until 29 July 2017. The Indonesian government reacted by criminalising and banning this petition across the whole country, and arresting people for signing it. West Papuan deputy leader of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Timika, Yanto Awerkion is currently still being detained by the Indonesian police, and is facing charges of treason and 15 years in jail.

The West Papuan People’s Petition, which was banned in Indonesia, was presented by Benny Wenda, an exiled West Papuan leader, to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization on 26^th September, 2017. Unfortunately, the UN’s decolonization committee refused to accept the petition and claimed that the issue of West Papua is not a matter for the committee.

West Papua was formerly on the decolonization committee’s agenda – which monitors progress towards decolonization and independent rule – but was removed in 1963.

West Papua was colonized by the Netherlands before annexed by Indonesia in 1963. The annexation was formalized in 1969 through the unfree “Act of Free Choice” referendum under Suharto dictatorship, when Indonesian military handpicked 1,025 out of an estimated 800,000 West Papua populations then, and compelled them into voting in favour of Indonesian annexation.

For almost half a century, an estimated 500,000 West Papuans have been killed in their fight for self-rule. The people of West Papua have endured decades of brutal oppression and culture of fear. The Indonesian military and police have conducted systemic suppression against the West Papuans by stirring up racial sentiments.

Hence, we call upon the United Nations:

1. To accept and recognize the West Papuan People’s Petition which was signed by 1.8 million West Papuans calling for a referendum on independence.
2. To include West Papua back on the list of UN’s Special Committee on Decolonization to ensure their right to self-determination.
3. To appoint a special representative to investigate human rights abuses in West Papua.

The right to freedom of information, freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of thought for the West Papuan people must be protected. To ensure the West Papuan people their right to self-determination, we must put an end to the repression and racial politics practiced by the Indonesian military and police against the people of West Papua.

Petition