West Papuan activists around the world use May 1st, the 45th anniversary of Indonesia’s occupation, to call for dialogue.

Below is an article published by Radio New Zealand International:

The West Papua National Coalition of Liberation says Indonesia can point to little in the way of progress in the Papua region since its occupation in 1963.

West Papuan activists around the world are using May 1st, the 45th anniversary of Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua, to renew their call for international dialogue on Papuan self-determination.

The Coalition, which represents a wide range of Papuan political and civil society groups, has ruled out pushing for independence in the foreseeable future.

But the Coalition’s spokeswoman Paula Makabori says they’ll keep lobbying for dialogue because under Indonesian rule, Papuans’ fundamental rights have never been respected.