The Colony Next Door -West Papua

21 May 2025

The Special Committee on Decolonization (C24) is set to meet in Dili, Timor-Leste, from May 21 to 23, 2025 for its Pacific Regional Seminar .

The event is part of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, which spans from 2021 to 2030.

As the Committee meets in Dili, there will be blind spot in their discussions, the forgotten colony next door-West Papua.

Joe Collins of AWPA said, "Yes, the international community recognises Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua, and West Papua is not on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, but it should be".

A colony is a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country. West Papua is a classic case.

62 years ago, the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) transferred West Papua to Indonesian administration, who then removed it from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

And yes, Indonesia did hold a referendum in 1969, the so-called "Act of Free Choice”, which was a sham and is referred to by West Papuans as the act of no free choice.

The C24 must know about the ongoing human rights abuses in the territory. The situation in the territory is seriously deteriorating with regular armed clashes between the West Papua National Liberation Army

(TPNPB ) and the Indonesian security forces. West Papuans continue to be arrested at peaceful demonstrations and Papuans risk being charged with treason for taking part in the rallies.

There are over 80,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), many facing starvation because they fear returning to their food gardens because of the Indonesian security forces operations in the highlands.

Joe Collins said, "West Papua is a complete failure by the UN to protect the people of West Papua. Although we cannot expect the C24 Committee to review the situation of West Papua at this stage, it is up to the countries in the region to seriously lobby the UN on the human rights situation in the territory. This is a fear from Jakarta, the internationalisation of the issue of West Papua and why Jakarta is targeting the Pacific leaders with aid, to convince them to stop supporting the West Papuan struggle”. Jakarta granted Fiji $6 million in financial aid and offered to cooperate with them on military training.

If some of the governments in the region are wavering in their support, the people of the Pacific are not. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji (NGOCHR). has expressed “deep concern over the Fiji Prime Minister’s ongoing engagements with Indonesia”.

The Chair of the NGOCHR said “As members of the Melanesian and Pacific family, bound by shared ancestry and identity, the acceptance of financial and any other benefit from Indonesia—while remaining silent on the plight of West Papua—is a betrayal of our family member and of regional solidarity.” “True leadership must be rooted in solidarity, justice, and accountability.”

The West Papuan people will continue their struggle for self-determination. Time for the countries in the region including Australia to take the issue seriously .

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