{"id":1768,"date":"2017-01-29T23:48:13","date_gmt":"2017-01-29T23:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=1768"},"modified":"2023-12-15T20:48:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T20:48:27","slug":"jeremy-corbyn-on-west-papua-uk-labour-leader-calls-for-independence-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=1768","title":{"rendered":"Jeremy Corbyn on West Papua: UK Labour leader calls for independence vote"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"content__head tonal__head tonal__head--tone-news \">\n<div class=\"tonal__standfirst u-cf\">\n<div class=\"gs-container\">\n<div class=\"content__main-column\">\n<div class=\"content__standfirst\" data-link-name=\"standfirst\" data-component=\"standfirst\">\n<p>Opposition leader says human rights and justice should be \u2018cornerstone\u2019 of UK Labour party\u2019s foreign policy<\/p>\n<p>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/may\/06\/jeremy-corbyn-on-west-papua-uk-labour-leader-calls-for-independence-vote\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"content__main tonal__main tonal__main--tone-news\">\n<div class=\"gs-container\">\n<div class=\"content__main-column content__main-column--article js-content-main-column \">\n<figure id=\"img-1\" class=\"media-primary media-content() \" data-component=\"image\" data-media-id=\"42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\">\n<div class=\"u-responsive-ratio\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=620&amp;q=20&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=fb779664265bc602011e14413703211e 1240w\" media=\"(min-width: 980px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 980px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"620px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=620&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=4c384e75f4ed0dac31e976503fb18451 620w\" media=\"(min-width: 980px)\" sizes=\"620px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=700&amp;q=20&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=a79896660808318486b850be78259791 1400w\" media=\"(min-width: 740px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 740px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"700px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=700&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=23d38b8c17375a1519ec437d8d358384 700w\" media=\"(min-width: 740px)\" sizes=\"700px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=620&amp;q=20&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=fb779664265bc602011e14413703211e 1240w\" media=\"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"620px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=620&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=4c384e75f4ed0dac31e976503fb18451 620w\" media=\"(min-width: 660px)\" sizes=\"620px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=645&amp;q=20&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=dc64cf596668f3fe2f3751c180bf039a 1290w\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"645px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=645&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=0b73b0ba07395aede05e82c4afb817e9 645w\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" sizes=\"645px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=465&amp;q=20&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;dpr=2&amp;s=f26d6fe6cbf195f0bf66b2940b7d485d 930w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (min-width: 0px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)\" sizes=\"465px\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=465&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=db255a6c789f71806b8866fec3b0b4b0 465w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" sizes=\"465px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"maxed responsive-img\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/42fc08c4fb5d24b8660f856fdaa23bffa97cd34c\/0_39_2992_1794\/master\/2992.jpg?w=300&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=f460a5bfa50f40ee808e560fbf9e3131\" alt=\"Jeremy Corbyn\" \/> <\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"caption caption--img caption--main\">Jeremy Corbyn, who is a cofounder of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, described the gathering as \u2018historic\u2019. Photograph: LNP\/REX\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"content__article-body from-content-api js-article__body\" data-test-id=\"article-review-body\">\n<p><a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/jeremy-corbyn\" data-link-name=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Jeremy Corbyn<\/a> has drawn attention to the plight of West Papuans, saying the recognition of human rights and justice should be the \u201ccornerstone\u201d of the UK Labour party\u2019s foreign policy.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"element element-rich-link element--thumbnail element-rich-link--upgraded\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 1\">\n<div class=\"rich-link tone-news--item \">\n<div class=\"rich-link__container\">\n<div class=\"rich-link__image-container u-responsive-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/2e3b7bbaf31e70b0a5fa33269071e69c65102b70\/0_0_2000_1201\/2000.jpg?w=460&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=d28eb70f3e3830c017ca1c72bb503eac\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-link__header\">\n<h1 class=\"rich-link__title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/may\/03\/west-papua-un-must-supervise-vote-on-independence-says-coalition\">West Papua: UN must supervise vote on independence, says coalition<\/a><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-link__read-more\">\n<div class=\"rich-link__arrow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-link__read-more-text\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/labour\" data-link-name=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Labour<\/a> leader made the comments in an address to a meeting of international parliamentarians, supporters and activists in London on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The group, which included Pacific region ministers and leaders, among them the West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda, <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/may\/03\/west-papua-un-must-supervise-vote-on-independence-says-coalition\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">called for a UN-supervised independence vote in the Indonesian territory<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>West Papuans are the indigenous people of a region on the western half of the island shared with Papua New Guinea, formerly under Dutch rule. <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/indonesia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Indonesia<\/a> took temporary control of West Papua under a UN\u2013backed treaty in 1963. It consolidated its rule through a UN-sanctioned but discredited ballot in 1969, in which barely 1,000 West Papuan representatives selected by Indonesia cast votes under threat of violence.<\/p>\n<p>Wenda, who sought asylum in the UK in 2003 after escaping prison in West Papua, has led an international campaign for independence, drawing attention to continuing acts of violence and alleged human rights abuses by Indonesian authorities. Indonesian police have <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/indonesian-police-arrest-1-500-in-papua-1462262785#:dPttta-WWxc1JA\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">arrested thousands of West Papuans<\/a> in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEssentially what we\u2019re looking at is a group of people who did not enjoy their rights during a period of decolonisation, did not enjoy the rights bestowed to them by the UN charter and by the statutes on decolonisation,\u201d Corbyn said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a member of parliament I support them, as a member of this group and as a former vice-chair of the all-party human rights group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recognising human rights and justice \u201chas to be the cornerstone of foreign policy, the cornerstone of our relationship with every other country\u201d, Corbyn said, pledging he would discuss a list of recommendations made in <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"http:\/\/www2.warwick.ac.uk\/fac\/soc\/pais\/research\/researchcentres\/ierg\/westpapua\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a report by the Politics of Papua Project at the University of Warwick<\/a> with the Labour party.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want these issues to become central to our party\u2019s policies in the future and above all I want to see an end to environmental degradation and destruction and the right of people to be able to make their own choice on their own future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Corbyn, who is a cofounder of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, described Monday\u2019s gathering as \u201chistoric\u201d and said the recommendations put forward were a good framework for moving towards recognition of the human rights issues, rights of representation and the right of people to choose their future in <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/west-papua\" data-link-name=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">West Papua<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He noted the recommendation called for a visit by the UN special rapporteur, the reinstatement of NGOs in the region and questioning of international companies working in West Papua.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about a political strategy that brings to worldwide recognition the plight of the people of West Papua, forces it onto a political agenda, forces it to the UN, forces an exposure of it and ultimately that allows the people of West Papua to make the choice of the kind of government they want and the kind of society in which they want to live,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is a fundamental right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said the international community could continue \u201cpretending the issue will go away\u201d or it could \u201cdo something bold\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRecognise injustice when you see it,\u201d he said. \u201cRecognise the abuse of human rights when you see it and recognise that both sides in any conflict benefit from a peace process and benefit from recognition of human rights, law and justice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Free West Papua campaign hopes to see a UN resolution within two years to send international peacekeepers to protect West Papuans as they vote on independence.<\/p>\n<p>It urged international governments \u2013 particularly those of Australia and New Zealand \u2013 to support the vote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor 50 years <a class=\"u-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/indonesia\" data-link-name=\"auto-linked-tag\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Indonesia<\/a> massacred my people, 500,000 people. We need international peacekeeping force in West Papua,\u201d Wenda said. \u201cIn maybe another 10 or 20 or 50 years time I think my people will become a minority. We need this as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Friday the Indonesian embassy in Australia released a statement dismissing the meeting as a publicity stunt organised by a \u201csmall group of Papua separatists and sympathisers\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPapua and Papua Barat (West Papua) are parts of Indonesia. The UN and the international community recognise this,\u201d it said in a series of tweets.<\/p>\n<p>It accused the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which Wenda leads, of making \u201cfalse claims\u201d and said West Papuans already had self-determination through special autonomy, free and fair elections, and education.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPresident Jokowi is mobilising resources of the nation to deliver much needed infrastructure and public services in Papua,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, cases of violence are still a challenge. For example cases killed civilians, members of security authorities and separatists. Many cases are brought to court. And more to be brought to justice. President Jokowi is personally looking after human rights protections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"bullet\">\u2022<\/span> This article was amended on 19 May 2016. The recommendations that Jeremy Corbyn said he would discuss with the Labour party were made in a report by the University of Warwick\u2019s Politics of Papua Project, not the group as a previous version said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opposition leader says human rights and justice should be \u2018cornerstone\u2019 of UK Labour party\u2019s foreign policy : Source Jeremy Corbyn, who is a cofounder of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, described the gathering as \u2018historic\u2019. Photograph: LNP\/REX\/Shutterstock Jeremy Corbyn has drawn attention to the plight of West Papuans, saying the recognition of human rights [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-nations-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1768"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1924,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1768\/revisions\/1924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}