19 Dec 2011

West Papua Decolonisation Committee established by coalition

10:45 pm on 19 December 2011

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation has announced the establishment of the West Papua Decolonisation Committee.

The coalition says the Committee will petition the United Nations Decolonisation Committee for the re-inscription of West Papua in order for it to be granted the due process of decolonisation.

Membership of the Committee will consist of the coalition's leaders and dignitaries of Vanuatu including former Presidents and Prime Ministers.

Membership would be open to people with relevant expertise from other countries.

The coalition's Vice Chairman, John Ondawame, says the establishment of the

Committee is their response to the ongoing violence committed by Indonesian forces

in Papua.

Dr Ondawame says the violence has continued despite years of pleas by Papuans for peaceful dialogue.

He has called upon the people of the Pacific and the International community to support the

diplomatic effort.