West Papua: Special Autonomy Is Illegal Under International Law
Posted Thursday, 20 January 2011 14:37
Indigenous Peoples, Issues & Resources, indigenouspeoplesissues.com
The International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) wishes to remind the Indonesian government that special autonomy for West Papua (now divided into West Papua and Papua) is illegal under international law.
West Papua has a legal right to self-determination i.e. a right under international law to choose freely its international status. West Papua’s legal right to self-determination has never been validly exercised and therefore that right continues to exist in law.
Special autonomy is not self-determination. Under international law, autonomy falls short of the freedom of choice demanded by the right of self-determination. Any attempt to substitute special autonomy for self-determination is a violation of international law.
The ILWP notes with concern that according to the Papuan Peoples Coalition for Truth (KRPBK) special autonomy has been a “catastrophe.” The rule of law
We ask the international community of States and all international funding agencies
- to respect the rule of law
- to cease immediately from providing any funding or other support for special autonomy.
We once again ask the United Nations to place West Papua under international administration and to hold a genuine act of self-determination for indigenous West Papuans.
Melinda Janki LLB, BCL, LLM,
Chair ILWP
International Lawyer for West Papua
Donate via PayPal
