Jayapura – Following the establishment of an OPM office in Oxford, the UK earlier this year, there are now plans to set up an OPM office in The Netherlands on 15 August.

Spokesman for the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) Wim Rocky said that diplomats and politicians in The Netherlands and several other countries round the world which colonised Indonesia had supported the idea of setting up OPM offices abroad.

Wim Rocky said that the activities of the new office will follow the practices of the office in London: "We will urge our people to organise peaceful demonstrations."

It so happens that the date of the opening is just two days before 17 August which is the day of the proclamation of the Indonesian state.

When asked whether this was their intention, Wim Rocky said: "The date of the opening is the one that was suggested by Dutch diplomats. It has nothing to do with what happened on 17 August more than fifty years ago."

Rovky also said that the KNPB will not do anything to disturb activities being planned by the Indonesian Government on 17 August, but will focus on what will be happening in The Netherlands this year.

He also said that in the coming months, other countries will be asked about having an OPM office in their country, following the opening of OPM office in Oxford and The Netherlands.

Furthermore, the KNPB intends to approach the Indonesian Government about the possibility of setting up an OPM office in Jakarta.

Asked about the visit to Papua by the Dutch ambassador earlier this year when he said that his government supports the idea that Papua should remain a part of Indonesia, Rocky said this was just a "political trick" which is also played by other governments. He warned Indonesia not to be taken in by such statements.

"Is it not a fact that even though the British government has close relations with Indonesia, the establishment of the OPM office there has gone ahead."

Rocky then said: "Indonesia needs to be 'open-hearted' and should acknowledge the fact that it has suffered a diplomatic defeat."

[Translated by TAPOL.]