News Stories
Category: Human Rights
Boycott the Indonesian elections and Rally for Referendum!
March 26, 2019
This statement was released by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua on 26 March 2019 (see the original statement): As the representative body of the West Papuan people and all West Papuan groups, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) formally declares a boycott of the Indonesian presidential and general elections on April […]
Crowdfunding for new nation state launches on Indiegogo
March 20, 2019
Today – Wednesday 20 March 2019 – a new crowdfunding campaign was launched to assist in the creation of a new nation state – West Papua. The Free West Papua campaign is asking for donations to deliver the largest hand-signed petition in modern history (1.8 million West Papuans – 70% of the population) to the […]
Flood disaster in West Papua
March 18, 2019
Statement released by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua in response to the flood disaster in West Papua. You can find the original statement here. ULMWP Chairman: My condolences and sympathy for people in Sentani, West Papua March 18, 2019 It is with a heavy heart that I am sending this message to you […]
US State Department: West Papuans jailed for supporting referendum
March 15, 2019
The United States Department of State has confirmed that Indonesia jailed West Papuans gathering a petition for independence. In its 2018 assessment report for Indonesia, the US State Department says: “On March 12, an (Indonesian) district court in Papua Province convicted Papuan activist Yanto Awerkion and sentenced him to 10 months in prison for involvement […]
Indonesia sends 600 Indonesian soldiers to secure controversial road in West Papua
March 7, 2019
The Indonesian government has deployed 600 soldiers, including 150 “combat engineers” to secure the controversial “Trans Papua” road, which is causing widespread violence, ecological destruction and social upheaval. The following is a report from BenarNews Calm has yet to return to Nduga regency in Indonesia’s Papua province where separatist rebels killed 19 construction workers in […]
United Kingdom: Parliamentary motion demands action on chemical weapon attacks
March 6, 2019
An Early Day Motion demanding action from the British Government on chemical weapon attacks in West Papua has been launched by Alex Sobel MP. Supporters of the Free West Papua campaign in the UK may contact their MP via our website to register support for the motion. Early Day Motion #2074 Early Day Motions are […]
Indonesian police say they will “arrest anyone” calling for West Papua’s independence
March 2, 2019
On Wednesday 27th February, the Head of the Indonesian police in West Papua, Inspector General Martuani Sormin Siregar announced that any people advocating West Papua’s freedom will be arrested. After a joint meeting with the Indonesian police, he stated, “If there is anyone who shouts for independence in the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, we will […]
United Nations experts condemn human rights abuses, impunity and racism in West Papua
February 21, 2019
This article was originally uploaded by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and can be read here. The largest group of independent experts within the UN human rights system has issued an unprecedented statement condemning a ‘culture of impunity’ around human rights abuses in West Papua. The statement calls for ‘those who have […]
ULMWP gathers West Papuan people of Doberai in Manokwari show their support for petition
February 18, 2019
This article was originally published by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and can be read here. On 14th February, the people of Manokwari in the Doberai region gathered to show their support and give thanks for the official submission of the West Papuan people’s petition to the United Nations. The historic petition, […]
West Papuan man shot by the Indonesian police in Merauke
February 17, 2019
West Papuan man Fransiskus Gebze was shot three times by the Indonesian police in Merauke on Wednesday 13th February. After the Indonesian Police Commissioner claimed he was a thief, Fransiskus told West Papuan media TabloidJubi on Friday that he had not stolen anything. He says a drunk Indonesian police officer had shot him three times […]