top of page

West Papua

Archaeological Map

Country Overview

Wikimedia Commons

Targeted Groups
Perpetrators
Alert Status
Genocide Stage(s)
  • West Papuans

  • Indonesian Military

  • Indonesian Government

Watch
Stage 3: Discrimination, Stage 4: Dehumanization, Stage 9: Extermination, Stage 10: Denial

Details

In 1963, Indonesia invaded West Papua, the western half of the island of New Guinea. Both countries were once colonized by the Netherlands. The United States brokered a deal with the Dutch and the UN to hand over West Papua to Indonesia. This deal was made due to Cold War politics and absent consultation with West Papuans. In 1969, Indonesia and the UN oversaw the rigged Act of Free Choice “referendum” in which 1000 selected “representatives” voted to formalize Indonesian rule. The “representatives” were threatened with death if they opposed annexation by Indonesia. West Papuans call the “referendum” the “Act of No Choice.”

Ethiopia Report Capture.PNG
Page last updated:
10/20/2022

Resources

Screen Shot 2021-08-30 at 9.50.49 AM.png

Inside Indonesia's Secret War for West Papua

Screen Shot 2021-04-22 at 6.57.38 PM.png

UN Experts Call Out ‘Shocking Abuses’ in Indonesia’s Papua Region

Ethiopia Report Capture.PNG

West Papua Conflict: From Genocide to Ecocide

bottom of page