15 Aug 2013

New York Agreement a reminder of Papuans' plight

6:19 pm on 15 August 2013

A member of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says that the 51st anniversary of the New York Agreement is a timely reminder that the international community has an obligation to address the issue of West Papua.

Across Indonesia's Papua region, peaceful actions have been planned to protest against the signing of the New York Agreement on this day in 1962.

Under the US-brokered agreement, the former colony of Dutch New Guinea was effectively ceded to Indonesian control without consultations with West Papuans themselves.

The Coalition's Paula Makabory says the recent move by the Melanesian Spearhead Group to seek action on the West Papuan self-determination issue hasn't yet been followed by other Pacific countries.

"Including New Zealand and Australia because they all knew there is something wrong about the political history of West Papua. Referendum or review of Act of Free Choice or whatever you call it, the West Papuans still wait for the right things to be done in the right time with the right people."

Paula Makabory of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation