News Stories
Category: Human Rights
President Wenda: Indonesia bombards Star Mountains as situation escalates across West Papua
October 15, 2025
Indonesia is again bombing Kiwirok, the site of a huge massacre in 2021 that killed over 300 West Papuan civilians. While President Prabowo talks about promoting peace in the Middle East, his military is trying to wipe out West Papua. Evidence gathered by villagers in the Star Mountains shows the Indonesian military using Brazilian fighter jets to target houses, gardens, […]
President Wenda: West Papua will never be an internal matter for Indonesia
September 30, 2025
No matter what the Indonesian ambassador to Fiji might say, West Papua is not and will never be an internal matter for Indonesia. West Papua is a colonised country, not a province of Indonesia. In 1961 we celebrated our Independence Day, raised our flag, and sang our national anthem. West Papua was set to become the first free Melanesian state. Even after Indonesia invaded we were promised a […]
President Wenda: If Indonesia can recognise Israel and Palestine, why not West Papua?
September 25, 2025
At UNGA yesterday, Indonesia pledged to recognise Israel if they in turn recognise a Palestinian state. Prabowo’s words are yet another act of Indonesian hypocrisy, playing with self-determination on the world stage while violently denying West Papuans this right at home. I ask again: what is the difference between West Papua and Palestine? Why do one people […]
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 […]
President Wenda: Happy Independence Day to Papua New Guinea
September 15, 2025
On behalf of the West Papuan people, I wish our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea a happy Independence Day. Fifty years of independence is an amazing achievement. Papua New Guinea has developed into a strong free Melanesian state, retaining its tribal identity while becoming a regional leader at the Pacific Islands Forum and […]
UK complicity in ecocide in West Papua: Parliamentary launch
September 10, 2025
A new report about British involvement in occupied West Papua was launched yesterday (9th September 2025) in the UK Parliament. Professor David Whyte Barrister Jen Robinson, ILWP FWP Spokesperson Koteka Wenda The report, titled “Bringing it All Back Home: the role of British companies in the destruction of West Papua“, exposes the role of British corporations and investors […]
Benny Wenda: West Papua ready to depart from collapsing Indonesia
September 1, 2025
Indonesia is in chaos, as massive protests have erupted over corruption, economic hardship, and police brutality. I call on all my people to get ready for another escalation back home. West Papua is ready to depart from this dying empire. This time, the protestors’ conflict is not only with the TNI, but with the DPR, the Parliament that is […]
President Wenda: Indonesia kills West Papuans to celebrate Independence Day
August 28, 2025
Indonesia continues to murder children as they escalate their military operations across West Papua. Two schoolchildren were killed by the occupying military in the build up to Indonesian Independence Day: security forces also killed a 14-year-old girl in Puncak Jaya, while 13-year-old Martinus Tebai was murdered in Dogiyai on August 10th after soldiers opened fire on a […]
President Wenda: No Indonesian Independence Day Celebration in West Papua
August 14, 2025
As President of the ULMWP, I call on all West Papuans to refuse to take part in Indonesian Independence Day on August 17th. The presence of the Indonesian flag in West Papua is illegal. To my people, whether you are living in the cities, the villages, refugee camps in Papua New Guinea, or in hiding […]
President Wenda: Condolences on the death of Ambassador John Licht
August 12, 2025
On behalf of the ULMWP, I express my heartfelt sorrow and condolences on the death of John Licht, former Vanuatu Ambassador to Belgium, France, the UK and the EU. In his years of diplomatic service to the Republic of Vanuatu, Mr Licht was a constant champion of the West Papuan cause. He helped keep alive […]