Similar ceremonies have been taking place amid tight security by military and police forces in Papua where indigenous resistance to Indonesian rule is widespread.
Mr Locke says New Zealand has a duty to help foster dialogue to address the discontent of Papuans with Indonesian rule and the ongoing abuses by Indonesia’s military in their region.
“We are a pacific country. These are Melanesian people that New Zealand betrayed back in the 1960s in allowing West papua to be colonised by Indonesia. We use this occasion to push for a true dialogue between Papuan people and Indonesia for a way forward. The special autonomy that Indonesia’s granted to West papua isn’t meeting the needs of the people. New Zealand could be involved.”
Keith Locke.