International Parliamentarian for West Papua Launched in Port Moresby on 7th November 2009
By Free West papua Campaign
11 Nov 2009
International Parliamentarians for West Papua – Papua New Guinea Chapter Launched on 7th November 2009. The official launch of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua “PNG Chapter” took place at the University of Papua New Guinea on the 7th November 2009. Hosted by the Governor of the National Capital District Powes Parkop MP and deputy governor of Western Province Mr Buka Kondra MP the day was a huge success. The main aim of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua is to advocate for and to ensure that the people of West Papua exercise their fundamental rights to self determination.
The event was attended by Benny Wenda, founder of the Free West Papua Campaign and West Papuan leader living in exile in the UK. Supporting statements were read out from MPs from around the world and lawyers from the group International Lawyers for West Papua.
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Media statement from the event follows:
ATTENTION ALL MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
MEDIA STATEMENT
THE LAUNCHING OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR WEST PAPUA – PNG CHAPTER
In light of the Launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua in London on 15th October 2008, of which I am a founding member, I am pleased to announce the launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua – “The PNG Chapter” on Saturday 07th of November 2009 at the University of Papua New Guinea Botanical Garden.
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua is a concern international Parliamentarian group of legislators who simply want the people of West Papua to exercise the fundamental right to self determination just like all other people of the world because that right belongs to the people of the world.
The main purpose of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua is to advocate for and ensure that our people of West Papua exercise their fundamental rights to self determination, a right recognized globally and enshrined in the United Nations founding Charter and in the preamble of the United Nation Human Rights Charter.
The right to self determination is recognized globally as a fundamental right to be exercise by people of the world. It is also recognized as a preliminary right that must be exercised and enjoyed before one can benefit or achieve other rights such as social, economic or political rights. The right to self determination is therefore a prerequisite or fundamental to all other rights and history shows that the people of West Papua did not exercise that right to date.
The launching of the PNG Chapter is complementary to the efforts of the International Parliamentarians in Europe and USA in recognizing the right of the West Papuan people to self determination, that has been denied from them through the 1969 Act of Free Choice.
The launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua – PNG Chapter is a show of support and commitment to the International Community and to the people of West Papua that we stand in solidarity to advocate for self determination for West Papua and by doing so we elevate the plight of the West Papuan People to a new level and hopefully in the United Nations.
The official launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua “PNG Chapter” will at the University of Papua New Guinea Botanical Gardens on Saturday 7th November 2009 at 1 o’clock.
Authorized by:
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HON. POWES PARKOP LLB LLM, MP
GOVERNOR