WEST PAPUA

Summary

That this House recalls that in August 1969 an Act of Free Choice (the Act) took place in the former Dutch colonial territory now known as West Papua or Papua, then under Indonesian administration, which was intended to be an act of self-determination conforming with international practice; further recalls that the Act in fact involved an unrepresentative group of 1,025 persons selected by Indonesia voting under duress to become part of Indonesia; is concerned that the Act was not free and fair and was not a proper act of self-determination in accordance with international law; notes that in December 1999 the Government of the Netherlands agreed to investigate the circumstances under which West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia; further notes that in February 2000 the Grand Assembly of West Papua, comprising representatives from across the territory, voted to reject the result of the Act because it did not conform with international practice and took place amidst intimidation and murder by the Indonesian military; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise that the inalienable right of the people of West Papua to self-determination has not yet been realised in accordance with international law and to press the UN to investigate the Act with a view to carrying out a proper act of self-determination in the territory; and further calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press the Government of Indonesia to enter into meaningful dialogue with West Papuan representatives to seek peaceful and democratic solutions to their grievances.

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Timeline

1. 6 March 2000

   Early Day Motion

   That this House recalls that in August 1969 an Act of Free Choice (the Act) took place in the former Dutch colonial territory now known as West Papua or Papua, then under Indonesian administration, which was intended to be an act of self-determination conforming with international practice; further recalls that the Act in fact involved an unrepresentative group of 1,025 persons selected by Indonesia voting under duress to become part of Indonesia; is concerned that the Act was not free and fair and was not a proper act of self-determination in accordance with international law; notes that in December 1999 the Government of the Netherlands agreed to investigate the circumstances under which West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia; further notes that in February 2000 the Grand Assembly of West Papua, comprising representatives from across the territory, voted to reject the result of the Act because it did not conform with international practice and took place amidst intimidation and murder by the Indonesian military; calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise that the inalienable right of the people of West Papua to self-determination has not yet been realised in accordance with international law and to press the UN to investigate the Act with a view to carrying out a proper act of self-determination in the territory; and further calls upon Her Majesty's Government to press the Government of Indonesia to enter into meaningful dialogue with West Papuan representatives to seek peaceful and democratic solutions to their grievances.

   Source: Early Day Motion

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Sponsors

• Jeremy Corbyn · Labour · Primary sponsor

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