The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) is calling on the Government of Indonesia to end more than four decades of oppression and human rights abuses. WPNCL representative, Paula Makabory, said the Indonesian government should discuss the future of West Papua with an elected team of West Papuan political leaders in an international setting.

'The Indonesian government has said it wanted to talk with West Papuan leaders', Ms Makabory said, 'but they wanted to talk within Indonesia. The West Papuan people now call on the Indonesian government to show it is sincere and talk with west Papuan leaders in an internationally mediated setting.'

Ms Makabory said that West Papuan leaders could only talk with the Indonesian government in an international setting to ensure transparency and guarantees of any outcome. 'We, the people of West Papua, have suffered the oppression of the Indonesian government and security forces,' Ms Makabory said. 'Tens of thousands of our people have been murdered and we have been kept in poverty despite the richness of out land. It is time to end this injustice.'

Ms Makabory's comments come with the release of a list of demands by the WPNCL, including the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua and the political re-unification of the territory. The WPNCL is the umbrella organization for West Papuan political organizations seeking peace and freedom for the people of West Papua. Its statement of demands follows the official formation of the organization, following a recent meeting of West Papuan political leaders at a secret location.

For further information, contact:
Paula Makabory +61(0)402547517 Fax: +61(0)395435843
John Otto Ondowame +67842601
Octo Mote +12035203055

Statement of Claims Against the Government of Indonesia

West Papua National Coalition for Liberation

• Deploring the continuing genocide of the people of West Papua at the hands of the Republic of Indonesia and its military;
• Deploring the long-standing and continuing gross human rights violations of the people of West Papua by the Republic of Indonesia and its military;
• Recognizing the illegal occupation of West Papua by the Republic of Indonesia under the illegitimate and sham 'Act of Free Choice (1969)';
• Noting the illegal dispossession of West Papuan people from their hereditary lands;
• Noting the economic and environmental rape of West Papua and its indigenous peoples at the hands of companies licensed by the Republic of Indonesia and illegal companies that act with impunity;
• Recognizing the corruption of the Indonesian judiciary and police force in allowing with impunity crimes against the people and lands of West Papua by the Indonesian military and police;
• And recognizing the abrogation of the obligations of the Government of Indonesia towards the people of West Papua through the undermining and dismemberment of the provisions of Special Autonomy.

We, the united leaders of the people of West Papua, under the umbrella organization of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), call upon the Government of Indonesia to restore to the people of West Papua their full civil, political, economic and cultural and social rights, as identified under the relevant United Nations instruments.

In this, we claim the following rights:

• to self-determination;
• to the unity of the West Papuan people
• to the territorial unity of West Papua
• to the demilitarization of West Papua
• to full and free democratic participation, organization and representation under international supervision;
• to independent control over West Papua's economy;
• to practice unhindered our religion, traditions and culture;
• to the immediate, full and unhindered access to West Papua by internationally recognized human rights monitors and defenders;
• to the immediate, full and unhindered access to West Papua by the international media;
• to the immediate, full and unhindered access to West Papua by international aid and development organizations.

In confirmation, the WPNCL calls upon the Government of Indonesia to discuss with it and resolve these claims in an external (international) setting under the auspices of an internationally recognized mediator. The WPNCL also calls upon the international community to endorse and support such an internationally mediated process, intended to end more than four decades of suffering by the people of West Papua at the hands of the Indonesian state and its institutions.

Signed,
Paula Makabory,
Member of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation

Representing:

• Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPN PB) National Liberation Forces of West Papua
• Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) Free Papua Movement
• Presidium Dewan Papua (PDP) Papua Presidium Council
• Dewan Musyawarah Masyarakat Adat Koteka (DEMMAK) Traditional Koteka Peoples Council
• Dewan Komite Pelaksana Kemerdekaan dan Kedaulatan Melanesia Barat (DKPKKMB)/Bintang 14, West Melanesia Independence Executive Committee Council
• PENTANA/PARNA
• West Papua Youth Awareness Team (WESPANYAT)
• West Papua Women Solidarity (SPP)
• Front PEPERA
• Front Nasional Mahasiswa Papua (FNMP)
• Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP)
• Mairasi Tribal Community Council
• West Papua National Authority (WPNA)
• West Papua People's Representative Office (WPPRO)
• Papua Resource Center
• ELSHAM Australia (Observer)
• ELSHAM Europa (Observer)