As COP30 begins in Belém, Brazil, we the undersigned express our profound concern over the intensifying deforestation currently occurring in West Papua, Indonesia.  West Papua has been under Indonesian control since a controversial 1969 process, “the Act of Free Choice”, which saw 1026 West Papuans vote for integration into Indonesia under conditions of intimidation and violence..

We urge the leaders of the five Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member groups to upgrade the membership status of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) at the upcoming MSG leaders’ summit. 

The inaugural West Papua All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the new Parliament was held in the House of Commons today (10/09/2024).  Chaired by Alex Sobel MP (Labour), the APPG was attended by MPs Luke Akehurst (Labour), Alex Ballinger (Labour), Jeremy Corbyn (Independent), Tan Dhesi (Labour), Alex Barros-Curtis (Labour), Lord Richard Harries, and addressed by ULMWP.