Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) reiterated its demand for self-determination for the Papuan people during a peaceful demonstration at the State Housing Company (Perumnas) 3 in Waena, Heram district, Jayapura city, on Monday August .
In a political statement, the KNPB urged the Indonesian government, the United Nations (UN) and the international community to take action regarding the martial law and humanitarian crisis in Papua.
During the action, KNPB Chairperson Agus Kossay delivered a political statement highlighting the worsening situation of martial law and the humanitarian crisis. The KNPB also reiterated its call for a resolution to the Papuan conflict through mechanisms deemed in accordance with human rights principles and international law.
Kossay stated that the right to self-determination is a fundamental human right that must be respected by every nation and state. He stated that the struggle for self-determination for Papuans is based on the principles of democracy, human rights, and international law.
In a statement read out before the protesters, the KNPB presented nine demands to the Indonesian government, the United Nations (UN) and several international actors.
The nine demands are:
1. Declaring that the indigenous Papuan people are a nation with the right to self-determination based on the principles of human rights, democracy and international law.
2. Urging the UN General Assembly's Committee IV to revoke UN Resolution 1752, which ratified the New York Agreement of August 15, 1962, on the grounds that the agreement is considered to be in conflict with provisions regarding non-self-governing territories.
3. Demanding that the United States, the Vatican, the Netherlands and Indonesia be held accountable for the 1962 New York Agreement and the 1962 Rome Agreement, which according to the KNPB, have impacted on the Papuan people for decades.
4. Rejecting the results of the 1969 Act of Free Choice (Pepera) and requesting a review of UN Resolution 2504, which accepted the results of the Act of Free Choice, and calling for a new referendum in Papua.
5. Requesting international humanitarian organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to encourage Indonesia to open access for humanitarian aid and guarantee freedom of movement for humanitarian agencies in Papua.
6. Calling on member states of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to pay attention to the situation in Papua as part of the Melanesian region.
7. Requesting leaders of Pacific nations who are members of the coalition supporting the Papua issue to urge the UN Security Council to take action on the situation in Papua.
8. Calling on the Indonesian government, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Indonesian Police (Polri) and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) to seek a resolution to the root causes of the Papuan conflict through peaceful mechanisms and respect for humanitarian values.
9. Rejecting the implementation of Law Number 21/2001 on Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua, as this policy has not resolved the Papuan issue, and reiterating the call for a referendum.
In addition to conveying these demands, the KNPB also urges the Indonesian government to open a dialogue on resolving the Papuan conflict through peaceful mechanisms.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Serukan Referendum, KNPB Desak Indonesia Akui Hak Politik Bangsa Papua".]
