Call To Indonesia To End 40 Years Of Oppression

Call To Indonesia To End 40 Years Of Oppression

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 & 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.

ENDS

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