The Republic of West Papua has been a member state of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) since the organization’s founding in 1991.

The people of West Papua are a distinct group with a unique cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identity rooted in their Melanesian heritage. As indigenous Melanesians, West Papuans have a history, traditions, and societal structures that clearly distinguish them from the majority population of Indonesia. 

The Indonesian government, which administers the region, has consistently suppressed their political and cultural rights, limiting their ability to express their identity and govern themselves. The 1969 “Act of Free Choice,” widely regarded as illegitimate, denied West Papuans the genuine opportunity to decide their political future, leading to decades of conflict and marginalization.

The right to self-determination for West Papuans is crucial for allowing them to preserve their cultural identity, maintain control over their natural resources, and determine their political status. Respecting this right would not only address historical injustices but also contribute to peace and stability in the region, providing a framework for resolving the ongoing conflict and enabling the West Papuan people to thrive.

The UNPO secretariat works for the rights of the people of West Papua as a whole and might work with different civil society organizations, groups and representatives from West Papua. However, the main organization representing the rights of people of West Papua within the UNPO membership and with voting rights at the General Assembly is the West Papua Human Rights Centre. You can read more about the West Papua Human Rights Centre here.

West Papua is home to a vibrant and diverse indigenous Melanesian population, composed of over 250 tribes, each with its own language, traditions, and cultural practices. The region’s culture is deeply rooted in its Melanesian heritage, which is reflected in its music, dance, art, and spiritual beliefs. Christianity, introduced in the 19th century, plays a significant role in West Papuan society, though traditional animist practices still persist, especially in rural areas. Over the decades, significant migration from other parts of Indonesia has altered the region’s demographic balance, leading to tensions between indigenous West Papuans and Indonesian settlers.

The history of West Papua is marked by its struggle for self-determination and independence. The region was first encountered by European explorers in the 16th century and later colonized by the Netherlands in the 19th century, becoming part of the Dutch East Indies. Following Indonesia’s independence from the Netherlands, West Papua was initially retained by the Dutch, who began preparing the territory for self-rule. However, under international pressure, the Netherlands transferred control of West Papua to Indonesia in 1963 under the New York Agreement, which stipulated a plebiscite on self-determination. 

In 1969, Indonesia conducted the so-called “Act of Free Choice,” where only 1,022 selected Papuan representatives were pressured into voting for integration with Indonesia, a process widely criticized as fraudulent and illegitimate. This has led to decades of conflict, resistance, and a persistent demand for independence by West Papuans. The Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) was formed as a key movement advocating for independence, leading to ongoing tensions with the Indonesian government.

West Papua remains one of the most politically sensitive regions in Indonesia, characterized by ongoing conflict, human rights abuses, and widespread exploitation of its natural resources. The Indonesian government has granted vast areas of West Papua to multinational and state-owned companies for mining, logging, and plantation agriculture, often without consulting or compensating indigenous landowners. This has led to the displacement of communities, environmental degradation, and significant socio-economic disparities.

The operations of mining companies, particularly PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan, have been a key source of conflict. The company’s Grasberg mine, one of the world’s largest sources of gold and copper, has led to environmental destruction and social unrest, with the local Amungme and Kamoro communities particularly affected.

Indigenous West Papuans face severe restrictions on their political freedoms, with arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances commonly reported. The Indonesian military and police maintain a heavy presence in the region, and any expression of pro-independence sentiment is met with harsh repression. Freedom of expression, assembly, and association are severely curtailed, with journalists and activists frequently targeted.

In recent years, there has been growing international attention to the situation in West Papua, with human rights organizations documenting widespread abuses and calling for greater international oversight. However, the Indonesian government continues to restrict access to the region for foreign observers, making it difficult to independently verify the extent of the repression.

Respecting the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua is important for the preservation of their cultural identity and the protection of their human rights. The ongoing exploitation of West Papua’s natural resources, coupled with severe political repression, underscores the urgent need for a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict. Granting the people of West Papua the opportunity to freely determine their political status and control over their resources would contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region, and set a precedent for addressing similar conflicts in other parts of the world.