Exiled West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda was joined by UK Parliamentarians and Free West Papua supporters from all over UK for the signing of the West Papua Declaration in Westminster. Today (Dec 1st) marks the day in 1961 when the Dutch authorities promised independence for West Papua – a momentous occasion for indigenous people in the region. However, this victory was brutally overturned and decades of oppressive Indonesian military occupation followed. In a letter to Foreign Secretary David Miliband earlier this year, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP urged the UK to raise the serious abuses of West Papuan human rights during talks with Indonesian President Yudhoyono, and to demand the withdrawal of Indonesia’s violent military presence. Dr Lucas, South East Green MEP, said: "Yet again, we find ourselves standing in solidarity with West Papua to remember the injustices experienced by its people, and yet again, so little has changed. "The Papuans were promised a referendum on independence when the Dutch former colonial rulers withdrew from the country four decades ago – they are still waiting. "Meanwhile the indigenous population continues to suffer terrible repression, violence and abuse at the hands of an Indonesian government more interested in securing lucrative business deals than honouring historical agreements – or obeying international law. "On the West Papuan Day of Independence, I urge the international community to demand that Indonesia ends its curbs on the freedom of journalists and human rights observers, withdraws its military presence, and engages in dialogue with the West Papuan leaders. "The Indonesian authorities must show that they take their responsibilities on international human rights seriously and grant freedom to the people of West Papua, so that they might choose their future themselves." *ENDS* *_Notes to Editors_* (1) THE WEST PAPUA DECLARATION: We the undersigned recognise the inalienable right of the indigenous people of West Papua to self-determination, which was violated in the 1969 "Act of Free Choice", and call upon our governments through the United Nations to put in place arrangements for the free exercise of that right so that the indigenous people of West Papua can decide democratically their own future in accordance with international standards of human rights, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. For more information on the Free West Papua campaign, you can visit www.freewestpapua.org or www.infopapua.org or email
Green Euro-MP Joins Calls For West Papuan Self Determination On Independence Day Green Euro
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