The Free West Papua Movement, or OPM, has called for international action on the conflict in Indonesian-ruled Papua
At a rare press conference in neighbouring Papua New Guinea, OPM representatives were joined by PNG civil society groups and two high-profile local MPs pushing for a change in the PNG government's policy on West Papua.
Johnny Blades reports.
Transcript
The press conference was a chance for the OPM and its armed wing, the West Papua Liberation Army, to give an update about the Army's conflict with Indonesian security forces in Papua's central Highlands.
This conflict has escalated since the Liberation Army massacred 17 Indonesian road construction workers late last year.
OPM spokesman Jeffrey Bomanak announced the Movement's official support for the Liberation Army's declaration of war against the Indonesian state.
The chairman of PNG's Union For Free West Papua, Kenn Mondiai said it made sense for the OPM to hold its presser in PNG where they are as one with fellow Melanesians.
"These are issues that our people in PNG, the Melanesian people, are very concerned about. Fifty-seven years of struggle where the Indonesian military, the armed forces and the police force have killed Melanesians. This is not right. So Papua New Guineans have become more and more aware of the issues in West Papua because of social media."
The Governor of PNG's National Capital District, Powes Parkop, announced that he is working on introducing a motion in parliament for a change in government policy on Papua.
The Oro Governor, Gary Juffa, says the decades-old treaty with Indonesia, which commits PNG to not interfere in domestic matters of its neighbour, is outdated and must be changed,
"And it has to be done by parliament, because it was enacted by parliament obviously. And that's the whle purpose of this gathering. But it is also their statement that no matter what, there's no going back for them. Their only statement to the Indonesian government is that 'we are willing to negotiate for freedom, nothing else'. They are very determined. As Melanesians, as a Pacific nation, we have to rise up and stand up for our fellow Pacific Islanders."
PNG's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, has repeatedly ruled out PNG pushing Indonesian on the matter of Papua's political status.
He says PNG is working with Indonesia on various projects in the common border area that are creating economic development and steadily improving living conditions for West Papuans.
PNG's Lands Minister Justin Tkatchenko says the government should speak up about rights issues while at the same time maintaining respect for Indonesian sovereignty in Papua.
"We have no problem with our Melanesian brothers and sisters across the border airing their views on what's happening to them in Indonesia. We are concerned about that, I know the governor (Parkop) is concerned about that, and I know a lot of people should be concerned about that, if human rights are being not looked after in another country. It's Indonesia's sovereign right to handle that, but these are also our Melanesian brothers and sisters that need our support on realistic and verified accounts."
Ken Mondiai says the issue of West Papua should be addressed by the UN.
"Indonesia has come in in a very forceful way since the 1960s to take over using its military force. The United States of America, the UN, the Netherlands, and many of the big countries like Australia are collectively responsible. So they should be responsible to try and fix the mistakes of the past."
Meanwhile, the OPM said its armed struggle to end Indonesian rule would not end until Jakarta agreed to meet for peaceful negotiations.