23 Sep 2017

Vanuatu PM accuses world leaders of ignoring West Papua

10:35 am on 23 September 2017

The prime minister of Vanuatu has accused world leaders at the UN of turning a deaf ear to more than half a century of atrocities committed by Indonesia on the people of West Papua.

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai Photo: Supplied

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday Charlot Salwai called on the UN Human Rights Council to investigate documented cases of arbitrary killings, torture and abuse of indigenous West Papuans in Indonesia's Papuan provinces.

Mr Salwai also appealed to world leaders to support the aspirations of the people of West Papua for a referendum on independence from Indonesia.

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Photo: Supplied

His words are translated into English:

"We also call on our counterparts throughout the world to support the legal right of West Papua to self-determination and to jointly with Indonesia put an end to all kinds of violence and find common ground to facilitate a process to make their own choice. "