On 12 October 2007 UNPO conducted a briefing for the Swedish press, entitled Self-Determination as Conflict Prevention, to grant a clearer insight of the problems faced by many UNPO Members.

The briefing was attended by two UNPO Member Representatives, Mr. Nasser Boladai from West Balochistan and Mr. Viktor Kaisiëpo from West Papua, who delivered presentations to members of the Swedish press, and concluded with an in-depth roundtable discussion.

The event was introduced by UNPO Project Coordinator, Mr. Kevan Berthou, who outlined the workings of UNPO and the importance of nonviolence as a means of achieving one’s goals.

Following this, Mr. Kaisiëpo delivered a presentation focusing on the complex situation not only vis-à-vis Indonesia, but also on the internal heterogeneity of West Papua. Moreover, self-determination and conflict prevention cannot only be viewed from an inter-human standpoint, but must also encompass environmental issues, such as the responsible management of resources and the conflict between society and nature. 

Furthermore, he emphasised the value of UNPO being led by its Members, with their active input allowing the unrepresented to set the agenda, and confront issues that otherwise may have been sidelined.

Mr. Boladai then continued the briefing with an overview of the situation of the Balochis in Iran, oppressed for their racial, linguistic and religious differences. Mr. Boladai outlined the possibility of self-determination within a federal structure as a means to prevent conflict, but highlighted the massive challenges in bringing about such change and the difficulty in remaining nonviolent in the face of extreme provocation.

The issue of nonviolence was picked up by the journalists and carried into the subsequent discussions. One of the key points raised was how to define nonviolence, with some journalists asking whether self-defence is still compatible with the principle of nonviolence.

Delving further into the principle of self-determination, questions were asked on how to define a concept which ranges from minority rights via federalism to complete independence, and how self-determination would take shape in West Papua and West Balochistan. A key issue, it appeared, was the situation of the minorities within the minority seeking self-determination. Taking such issues into account is key to developing a style of self-determination that brings stable and long-lasting peace.

Aside from these points, the discussion covered more detailed aspects of UNPO, including the application and screening process of Membership, funding sources, and the democratic procedures regarding the UNPO Presidency and the UNPO General Assembly, which allows for the effective and transparent operations of the organisation.