A West Papuan independence leader says he will petition the United Nations General Assembly later this month with the signatures of his people.
The petition calls on the UN to facilitate a legitimate self-determination process for West Papua.
The leader Benny Wenda is in Geneva delivering a symbolic petition to the UN.
Mr Wenda said he would take the actual petition, with authenticated signatures of West Papuans, to the UN in New York.
He said he would present the document to the UN Secretary General and the C24, the special committee on decolonization.
Mr Wenda said he would also announce how many thousands of West Papuans have signed.
"Indonesia's always saying it's just a handful of people that are talking about independence, it's just a dream and fantasy, but now we show that all the minorities are wanting independence and that means Indonesia's presence in West Papua is illegal," he said.
The West Papua Freedom Movement's Benny Wenda meets MPs at New Zealand's parliament in Wellington. May 2017. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins