One People, One Soul
On 7th December 2014, a historic gathering of West Papuan leaders in Vanuatu saw different factions of the independence movement unite to form a new body called the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
The key groups who have united include the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB), National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) and West Papua National Parliament (PNWP). An Executive Committee consisting of six elected members from the various groups co-ordinates the ULMWP activities, supported by the Council Committee consisted of three elected members. The Council Committee helps to preside over the structure of the ULMWP.
Following a triennial summit in 2017, the ULMWP restructured and elected Benny Wenda as Chairman and Jacob Rumbiak as Spokesperson. In his inaugural speech, Benny Wenda stated, “Under our new leadership structure, we commit to a strong and unified future because we know this is what is needed for the liberation of our people. My prayer is that all of those who want to see the liberation of the nation of West Papua will support us in their prayers”.
Representatives
Chronology of ULMWP
December 2014
Following a historic gathering, West Papuan independence movement groups unite under a single umbrella organisation, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
June 2015
A petition of over 150,000 signatures from inside West Papua is presented to the Vanuatu government to ask for their support at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as well as expressing full support for the ULMWP to represent the interests and aspirations of the West Papuan people within the MSG.
June 2015
ULMWP is granted observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as representative of West Papuans outside the country -West Papua’s first diplomatic recognition, since 1963, of being recognised as a “country in waiting".
June 2015
At the MSG in Honiara, the Solomon Islands establishes a special envoy on the issue of West Papua and joins Vanuatu and Tonga in addressing the issue of human rights at the UN convention in Geneva
February 2016
ULMWP office is officially opened in Wamena, West Papua, attended by over 5,000 people.
May 2016
International Parliamentarians for West Papua hosts an international event in the Houses of Parliament, London, culminating in the signing of the Westminster Declaration for an Internationally Supervised Vote for Self-Determination in West Papua.
September 2016
At the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Prime Ministers of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Presidents of Nauru and Marshall Islands, call for UN action on alleged human rights abuses committed on West Papua's indigenous Melanesians.
October 2016
The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination initiates an early warning and urgent action procedure, requesting Indonesia formally respond to allegations of racial violence in West Papua.
March 2017
At the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, Vanuatu makes a joint statement on behalf of Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands, raising human rights abuses in West Papua and requesting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a report.
September 2017
At the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, the Prime Ministers of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu once again raise human rights concerns, along with theCaribbean nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Vanuatu call for a Human Rights Council investigation into killings and human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces and appeal to world leaders to support self-determination with the Solomon Islands also calling for self-determination.
September 2017
A petition for self-determination signed by 1.8 million West Papuans is smuggled out of West Papua and flown to the United Nations headquarters in New York.
September 2017
The Papuan People's Petition for self-determination is presented by ULMWP Chairman Benny Wenda and Rex Rumakiek to Rafael Ramírez, chair of the UN Decolonisation Committee (C-24) and Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
December 2017
Following an organisational restructure, Benny Wenda is elected Chairman of ULMWP, and Jacob Rumbiak becomes International Spokesperson.
January 2019
Chairman of the ULMWP, Benny Wenda, delivers the Papuan People's Petition for self-determination to UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet, during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.