16 September 2026

To the people of Papua New Guinea,

On this special day, I send my warmest congratulations and greetings to you on the 51st anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence.

From the people of West Papua, I say: Happy Independence Day to our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea!

For 51 years, Papua New Guinea has walked its own path as an independent nation. Your independence is a source of pride for the whole Melanesian family and an inspiration to Papuans who continue to dream of freedom, dignity and self-determination.

We may be separated by a colonial border, but that border cannot erase who we are. We share the island of New Guinea, our ancestral history, our cultures, our languages, our traditions and our deep family connections.

From Sorong to Samarai, our people have always known that we are connected.

Today, while you celebrate 51 years of independence, please remember that our brothers and sisters in West Papua are still waiting for the same basic right that Papua New Guinea achieved in 1975: the right of a people to determine their own political future.

Our struggle is a peaceful one. We do not seek conflict with the people of Indonesia. We seek justice, recognition and a peaceful political process through which the people of West Papua can freely determine their future.

As Melanesians, we ask Papua New Guinea to continue standing with the people of West Papua in the spirit of Wanpisin — one family.

The freedom of one part of our family should remind us of the unfinished journey of the other.

On this Independence Day, I celebrate with the people of Papua New Guinea and honour all those who sacrificed for your independence.

May Papua New Guinea continue to stand strong as a proud Melanesian nation.

May the friendship between Papua New Guinea and West Papua grow stronger.

And may the day come when the people of West Papua can also celebrate their freedom in peace, dignity and unity.

Happy 51st Independence Anniversary, Papua New Guinea! 🇵🇬

God bless Papua New Guinea.
God bless West Papua.
God bless all the people of the island of New Guinea.

With love and solidarity,

Benny Wenda
President
United Liberation Movement for West Papua