Organisations campaigning for independence in the Indonesian province of Papua have formed a new umbrella organisation – the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation. Members of the armed wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka – the OPM independence movement – crossed into Papua New Guinea to participate in the founding meeting of the new coalition. Since the 1970s, members of the OPM have been campaigning for independence from Indonesia, but the movement has long been riven with differences between its different wings.

Presenter/Interviewer: Nic Maclellan

Speaker: Rex Rumakiek, external spokesman, West Papua National Coalition for Liberation

Rumakiek: There are all the organisations actually involved in the independence struggle.

In fact the facilitating committee have consulted widely. That was one of the conditions that PCRC put to them, that is Elsham and PCRC as partners involved in the facilitating role – all the organisations involved must be consulted and take part of this thing.

So 18 organisations enrolled or participated, and the others, about 10 could not make it but they fully support the idea of establishing the coalition.

MacLellan: What sort of groups have been involved in the discussions?

Rumakiek: One of the important groups that we are aiming at at this stage was the TPN – the military arm of the OPM, because PCRC and Elsham are worried that if we don't keep them on check, the declared Zone of Peace might be in danger. So they were fully involved – all the commanders were there.

MacLellan: So commanders from the TPN – the armed forces of the West Papuan independence movement OPM were present at the meeting in Papua New Guinea?

Rumakiek: That's correct.

MacLellan: And they have agreed to maintain the policy of a Zone of Peace in Papua?

Rumakiek: That is correct as well. They have confirmed that they will maintain, they will uphold the Zone of Peace.

MacLellan: Rex, you've said that members of the TPN, the armed wing of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka were present at the meeting. Do you think that that might cause diplomatic problems with Papua New Guinea?

Rumakiek: Well that will happen but for us, those who really love peace and want peace to be maintained, this is a chance we should not miss, because we want to make sure this group of people can respect the civil society decision to declare a Zone of Peace.

MacLellan: For many years, the Papuan nationalist movement has been seeking diplomatic support from Pacific Island governments, but there's been criticism that the movement's been disunited. Do you think that the creation of this new coalition will have an important diplomatic effect?

Rumakiek: It will be yes, definitely. In fact, those who attended have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that they will stand united from now on to work together for the liberation of West Papua. And they will establish a Secretariat, to make sure that all the framework is established and consult everybody else to participate.

MacLellan: Do you think that the creation of a West Papua National Coalition will open the way for further discussion with Jakarta?

Rumakiek: I think that is expected, that after this united front or coalition that is the aim to encourage dialogue between interested parties.