West Papua Information Kit

OPM

The OPM is the "Organisation for Papuan Freedom", people who want freedom and independence from colonial powers like Indonesia and Freeport McMoRan. But "OPM" is in the Indonesian language "Organisasi Papua Merdeka", the Indonesians always knew West Papua rejected Indonesia's colonization of the Pacific.

Despite the risk of death or worse, since 1965 West Papuan communities have supported OPM, they have talked with other communities and they have sent people of their choosing to speak with other OPM people to organise a national concensus. OPM exists despite the colonial repression against free speech.

Under Indonesian colonial law, people would be arrested and are regularly beaten and killed for be suspected of supporting Papuan freedom from the Indonesian military occupation and exploitation.

OPM has political and military arms, and supports civil disobedience of Jakarta's foreign rule and plunder. But under Indonesian colonial law, people are arrested and are regularly beaten and killed for even being suspected of supporting their freedom.

Under United Nations resolution 1514 the Indonesian forces must be removed immediately, since 1963 when Indonesia acknowledge the territory was a colony being traded to them by the New York Agreement. But OPM reminds us all that West Papua during the 1950s already decided for independence, when Papua heard about the New York Agreement, the people in August 1962 took to the streets in peaceful protests for their independence.

In 1961 the national New Guinea Council with full public support created the Morning Star flag, and wrote their Manifesto for the world.

Manifesto First Papuan Peoples' Congress, October 19, 1961

We, the undersigned, residents of the western part of Papua, representing various groups, tribes and religious denominations, knowing that we are united as a people and a nation,

DO HEREBY DECLARE

To all our fellow countrymen that we,

I. in pursuance of Article 73a and b of the Charter of the United Nations;

II. on the strength of the declaration of principle regarding the independence of non-self- governing territories and peoples, as laid down in the resolution No. 1514 (XV) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its Fifteenth Meeting from September 20 to December 20 1960;

III. by virtue of the inviolable right we, inhabitants of the western part of Papua, have to our native country;

IV. in accordance with the ardent desire and the yearning of our people for our own independence, through the National Committee and our parliament, the New Guinea Council, insist with the Government of Netherlands New Guinea and the Netherlands Government that as of November 1, 1961,
a) our flag be hoisted beside the Netherlands flag;
b) our national anthem ("Hai Tanahku Papua") be sung and played in addition to the Netherlands national anthem;
c) our country bear the name of Papua Barat (West Papua), and
d) our people be called: the Papuan people.

In view of the foregoing, we, Papuans, demand our own position, equal to that of the free nations and in the ranks of these nations, we, Papuans, wish to live in peace and to contribute to the maintenance of world peace.

Through this manifesto we summon all inhabitants who love this country and its people to rally round this manifesto and to uphold it, as it is the sole basis for the freedom of the Papuan people. Hollandia, October 19, 1961.

W. Inury D. Sawom
P. Poana A. Onim
F.J.S. Rumainum E. Itaar
M. Suwa J.J. Roembiak
J. Jaab M. Ongg
P.H. Jochu Iz. Menufandu
M. Wai N. Jouwe
H. Mori Muzendi P. Koejab
W. Zonggonao F. Jufuway
A.J.A. Rumtoboy E. Noembery
J.S. Dekeniap S.L. Rumadas
T.S. Akwan H. Jomungga
M. Buotabui F. Torey
M.W. Kaisipo B. Gebze
Th. Mezet J.E. Bonay
N. Tanggahma H.I. Bauw
Sp. Malibela T. Dansidan
W. Giay O. Nemnay
A. Sefa J. Manory
L. Ayamiseba M. Rumainum

TPN/OPM

Known as the combatant branch of OPM, these brave people for forty years have prevented Indonesia and Freeport from claiming West Papua was happy to be part of Indonesia. It is sad but the American Ambassadors only acknowledge combatants:
    The number of separatists is unknown. According to most missionaries, vir- tually the entire population of the developed areas should be counted as anti-Indonesian, but it is hard to imagine active opposition from more than 25,000 persons; the actual number would probably be much smaller. The sep- aratists have no central leadership and no unifying principle other than independence. AIRGRAM May/1968
    The OPM, hoever, does represent an amorphous mass of anti-Indonesia sentiment. Card-carrying members of the OPM as such must be few, although partisans claim that it has anywhere from 1500 to 5000, or even 500,000 members. ... Regarding the magnitude of the opposition to Indonesian rule, probably a decided majority of the Irianese people, and possibly 85 to 90 percent, are in sympathy with the Free Papua cause or at least intensely dislike Indonesians. AIRGRAM July/1969

Mathias Wenda, Kelley Kwalik, and others are doing as they must; they would prefer to be parents and teachers again but while refugee camps must hide from the Indonesian patrols and freedom is repressed; the struggle continues.

Me

My name is Andrew Johnson, I live in Sydney Australia where I enjoy the freedom to speak the truth. My friends in West Papua do not have this luxury, they would be killed for doing as I have done. I acknowledge my neighbours as good and honourable people who need more people outside the colony to to acknowledge West Papua.

I call on all people of good conscience to help the voice of West Papua be heard.

Presidium of Papua Council

Presidium of Papua Council, or Presidium Dewan Papua (PDP) despite the repression Papuan leaders have held a number of OPM national gatherings. The Papua National Congress II 2000, in Port Numbay called for an executive body and for the New Guinea Council to re-emerge as a legal base to represent the voice of West Papua.

The Gazette of the establishment of Nieuw Guinea Council and the approval of West Papua Flag, National Anthem , the Name of the Nation and the name of the State and the geographical boundaries have never been legally cancelled. Therefore, legally, under the UN De-colonisation Rules, West Papua is still a colonised state, which was re-colonised by Indonesia.

However I point out while this is a noble effort to overcome the problems of being a colony; it is clear that United Nations Resolution 1514 requires the removal of forces of repression BEFORE any expression even of simple Self-determination, let alone political representations. The PDP shows the Papuan people are well able to vote and organise themselves once the foreign military is removed.

WPNCL / West Papua National Coalition for Liberation

During 2007 in another effort to maintain harmony for differing aspirations the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation was formed.

Like the PDP I point out that this shows the people are able to make their own arrangements even under very trying conditions. The WPNCL like all the organisation can be accepted as legitmate informants within limits that they are limited by the public being under Indonesian military and policing restrictions.

Demmak - The Koteka Tribal Assembly

The Koteka Tribal Assembly (Dewan Musyawarah Masyarakat Koteka - Demmak) is a cultural organisation of the Koteka tribes of Papua. It was established as an outcome of discussions among the elders of several tribes in West Papua. The main goal of the Assembly is to peacefully, democratically and legally work towards the recognition and protection of customary laws, values and beliefs of the Koteka Peoples.

It is organised in as a confederation that consists of elders who independently and autonomously join and or leave the Assembly as they wish, and contribute to the organisation according to their willingness and capabilities in order to achieve our goal. Demmak is managed under coordination of a Secretary-General that is assisted by Coordinators based on activities carried out within the Assmbly. For the first time, it is working to document and formalise the customary laws, values, and traditional systems that exist among the Koteka Tribes.

AMP - Allaince of Papuan Students

Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP)

West Papuan Relief Association (WPRRA)

Established in Port Moresby, the Capital of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Papua Women's Alliance (APP)

Alainsi Perempuan Papua (APP)

Papua Customary Council (PCC)

Dewan Adat Papua (DAP)/ Papua Customary Council (PCC)

Papuan Panel (PP)

Papua Peoples Customary Council

Lembaga Masyarakat Adat (LMA)

Fourteen-Star (B-14) Group

In 1988 a flag with fourteen stars designed by Dr Thomas Wainggai was hoisted in Jayapura while declaring West Papua to be a Melanesian State.

West Papua National Youth Awareness Team (WESTPANYET)

West Papua Indigenous Organisation (WPIO)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Home