SAMARU – Entering a new chapter in the long history of the land of Papua, the Regional Executive Board of the West Papua National Committee (BPW-KNPB) of the Yahukimo Region launched a sharp national statement precisely on the 63rd anniversary of the events of May 1, 1963. KNPB firmly stated that Indonesia's presence in West Papua since the transfer of administration from UNTEA is a form of illegal occupation and forced annexation, not a legitimate integration under international law. Through an official appeal issued in Samaru on May 1, 2026, KNPB emphasized that the status of West Papua remains the property of the Papuan nation and urged the international community to act immediately on the humanitarian crisis that continues to worsen in the land.
In a statement signed by Chairman John Suhun and Secretary General Nifal Enggalim, KNPB explained that the history of May 1, 1963, was a dark day for the Papuan people because of the seizure of sovereignty without the consent of the legitimate landowners. KNPB referred to the Declaration of Independence on December 1, 1961, as a valid legal framework for decolonization, which was instead ignored through the 1962 New York Agreement conducted without the representation of the Papuan people. KNPB explicitly mentioned that the integration claimed by the Indonesian government all this time is merely a historical lie because the process did not meet international legal standards requiring free consent without intimidation.
The security situation in Papua was also a major focus in this national appeal. KNPB strongly criticized the implementation of military operations such as Operasi Damai Cartenz and Operasi Habema, which were deemed to have transformed into instruments of terror against civilians. KNPB reported mass displacements in various indigenous territories such as Nduga, Intan Jaya, and Yahukimo, where communities have lost access to food and health services. The silencing of democratic space and the restriction of access for international journalists and human rights monitors are considered by KNPB as a systematic effort to cover up humanitarian crimes occurring behind these security operations.
Regarding this matter, KNPB Yahukimo lodged strong diplomatic demands to various high international institutions, including the UN Security Council and the International Court of Justice. KNPB requested a special session to discuss the Papua crisis and the formation of an Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the record of human rights violations that have lasted for six decades. Additionally, KNPB urged the International Court of Justice to issue a legal opinion regarding the validity of the 1969 Pepera, which is considered legally flawed as it only involved a handful of people under military pressure. Support from the Pacific community through the MSG and PIF is also hoped by KNPB to encourage the re-listing of Papua's status in the UN list of territories that have not completed the decolonization process.
The statement concluded with a spirit of resistance that has not diminished despite passing through more than half a century of conflict. KNPB emphasized that the identity and political rights of the Papuan nation will never be erased by the power of any weapon. In the closing quote, the leadership of KNPB Yahukimo stated directly:
"Weapons might be able to kill the body, but weapons will never be able to kill the truth, the history, nor the rights of a nation. West Papua is already independent; it is not a dream but a historical certainty."
KNPB believes that the struggle toward full sovereignty is a historical certainty that will continue to be fought for by all the people of Papua in the homeland and in the diaspora. ***