President Wenda: West Papua included in PIF communique

September 16, 2025

On behalf of the ULMWP, I welcome the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) 2025 Communique reaffirming the 2019 call for a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua:

16. Recalling Indonesia’s 2018 invitation for a mission led by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Leaders tasked the Secretariat to work constructively with Indonesia on a proposed visit by Forum Leaders Envoys in 2026, in consultation with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat.

The ULMWP is pleased to see that PIF leaders have again given Indonesia a year’s notice to organise a visit for Envoys visit. However, as Ralph Regenvanu noted at this year’s Leaders’ Meeting, Indonesia’s ongoing refusal to allow a visit, seven years after it was first promised, is undermining the credibility of the Pacific at large. There must be consequences should Indonesia continue to fail to honour their promise to facilitate UN access to West Papua.

The 2019 call was a very important milestone for West Papua and our international advocacy efforts. The Pacific stood up with one voice and demanded that Indonesia West Papua – the ‘festering human rights sore’ of our region – to the eyes of the world. The ULMWP is encouraged to see Pacific support reaffirmed. 

It is my hope that PIF nations keep up this momentum by mentioning West Papua and the humanitarian crisis at this year’s UN General Assembly in New York. UNGA is the highest stage of the international community and a place to apply real pressure on Indonesia to allow UN and PIF access.

The initial call for a UN visit was made in 2019, a year after Indonesia President Widodo promised to facilitate access. Since then, the occupier has displaced over 100,000 West Papuan civilians, leading to the deaths of over 1000, and has embarked on an unprecedented campaign of environmental destruction across our land.

Benny Wenda
President
ULMWP