PAPUA - The Central Headquarters Management of the National Liberation Army of West Papua firmly stated its rejection of the New York Agreement signed on August 15, 1962. This official stance statement was issued coinciding with the commemoration of the anniversary of the signing of that agreement.

​National Liberation Army of West Papua Spokesperson Sebby Sambom conveyed this rejection on behalf of the people and the High Commander of the National Liberation Army of West Papua. He assessed that the agreement was flawed from the beginning because it was agreed upon without involving indigenous Papuans as legitimate legal subjects.

​"We firmly reject the New York Agreement of August 15, 1962 because it was carried out by the Government of the Netherlands and the Government of Indonesia under the supervision of the Government of the United States without involving indigenous Papuans," stated Sebby Sambom, Saturday (8/15/2026).

​The National Liberation Army of West Papua assessed that this omission has violated the fundamental rights of indigenous Papuans as the legitimate owners of the land of Papua. The agreement was also accused of being the root of various humanitarian problems in the land of Papua for more than six decades.

​The annexation of the territory regulated in that agreement was referred to as the beginning of disaster for the people of Papua. In addition, the political right to self-determination for local residents was sacrificed for the political interests between countries.

​Based on that, the National Liberation Army of West Papua demands a number of international parties to shoulder full responsibility for the suffering of the community in that region. The Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Indonesia, the Government of the United States, and the United Nations are viewed as having a major share.

​That demand relates to the adverse impacts of the occupation deemed illegal by the Indonesian military for more than 64 years. The National Liberation Army of West Papua also urges that the annexation process be reviewed comprehensively by the international community.

​In addition, the National Liberation Army of West Papua urges that the political right to independence of the people of Papua on December 1, 1961 obtain official recognition. (One Papua)