ULMWP work meeting in Bangkok yields results

The struggle of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) since its founding in December 2014 has continued despite many obstacles.

Following the Second ULMWP Summit last September in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the ULMWP Executive Council held a Work Meeting on December 11-15, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. This aimed to elaborate the strategic decisions taken earlier after bringing the ULMWP leadership inside West Papua. 

This meeting was chaired by the ULMWP executive President Menase Tabuni  accompanied by his Vice President Octovianus Mote and his Executive Secretary Markus Haluk. They affirmed ULMWP's position as an umbrella organization that unites various organizations and groups fighting for the independence of West Papua, both at home and abroad.

Fully committed to improve its quality and professionalism, a number of important materials were discussed in this five-day work meeting: actor mapping; problems mapping, solutions and targets; SWOT analysis; classification of issues, derivative issues and programs; identification of resources and preparation of work structures; as well as formulating job descriptions and standard operational procedures. 

Representatives from twelve organizations, both directly and indirectly affiliated, gave their support: West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), Federal State of the Republic of West Papua (NFRPB), National Parliament West Papua (PNWP), West Papua National Committee (KNPB), West Papua National Authority (WPNA), Papuan Student Youth and People's Movement (Gempar-Papua), Papuan Democratic People's Movement (Garda-P), National Solidarity of Papuan Students and Youth (SONAMAPPA), Papuan People's Petition (PRP), Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP), United for Justice (BUK) and ULMWP Action Committee. 

Overall, the last ULMWP working meeting was successful in taking a number of important steps:

1. Formulating 8 strategic program clusters into the ULMWP leadership Roadmap for the 2023-2028 period.
2. Etablishing the ULMWP Working Structure by forming 12 Departments as well as several Bureaus and Divisions. 
3. Appointing a number of people in functional structures, Special Envoys, Spokespersons, Interpreters, Negotiators and advisors as well as Diplomatic Desk-Missions in a number of countries, institutions and regions. 
4. Promoting Reconciliation and Internal Consolidation of both civilian and defense struggle organizations. 

A just and dignified solution must be achieved: The West Papua issue must be brought back to the United Nations.

For that purpose, Menase Tabuni emphasized the importance of the West Papuan people's active support :

"There are heavy responsibilities and many challenges that must be carried out by the ULMWP leadership for the 2023-2028 period. We will not be able to do all that without the support of the West Papuan people. Trust that the current ULMWP leadership is working based on prayer, data and funds." 

Octovianus Mote underlined the independence struggle as the only solution to save the West Papuan nation which is on the verge of extinction:

"The people of West Papua have no future with Indonesia. Fighting for independence is the only solution to save West Papuan people from the threat of extinction in their ancestral land. Now is the time to take strategic steps to mobilize support from various groups ranging from the West Papuan community, regional to international."

Meanwhile, Markus Haluk insisted on the importance of West Papuan unity to reclaim its sovereignty, which was stolen through an international conspiracy in the 1960s:

"West Papuans are currently facing Genocide, Ecocide and Ethnocide. These conditions are the result of past international political decisions that placed West Papua as an Indonesian colony. If we do not fight now, we will be extinct. Therefore, we must unite and work together to free ourselves from Indonesian colonialism. This is to ensure the future of the West Papuan Nation." 

In closing, all present proclaimed:

"God is the supreme owner and ruler of ULMWP. We are fully surrendered to You."