Vanuatu supports West Papuan self-determination at the United Nations General Assembly

September 22, 2017

Yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, H.E. Mr. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas gave a powerful speech in which he reaffirmed the strong and consistent support of his people and nation for the people of West Papua.

He stated, “Mr President, for half a century now the international community has been witnessing a wide range of torture, murder exploitation, sexual violence and arbitrary detention, inflicted on the nationals of West Papua, perpetrated by Indonesia. But the international community turned a deaf ear to the appeals for help. We urge the Human Rights Council to investigate these cases.”

The Prime Minister also reiterated Vanuatu’s longstanding comittment to supporting the fundamental right to self-determination of the West Papuan people, stating “We also call upon our counterparts throughout the world to support the legal right of West Papua to self-determination and to jointly with Indonesia, put an end to all forms of violence and find common ground with the nationals to facilitate putting together a process which will enable them to freely express their choice”. 

As always we express our deepest thanks and gratitude to fully grateful to H.E. Mr. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas and all of Vanuatu for Vanuatu’s never-ending support and Melanesian-Pacific solidarity with West Papua, especially regarding self-determination. This support means everything to the people of West Papua who for decades have relied on the truly inspiring and spirited support of their Ni-Van brothers and sisters in the wantok spirit.
Once again we send our deepest thanks and encouragement for their Pacific solidarity, especially regarding West Papua’s fundamental right to self-determination.

We also send our deepest solidarity and undying support to Vanuatu and all Pacific nations in the struggle against climate change and we urge everyone to take all possible actions to help support our fellow Pacific islanders and stop the effects of climate change.