The Pacific Conference of Churches is backing a formal legal complaint to the UN Human Rights Council accusing Indonesia of human rights violations in West Papua.
Indonesian police at a demonstration in the Papuan region Photo: Supplied / Whens Tebay
The Dutch human rights law firm, Prakken D'Oliveira, has submitted the complaint to the UN Human Rights Council.
It details vast and continuing alleged human rights violations by the Indonesian government against the people of West Papua.
The general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend Francois Pihaatae, says the action has been taken on behalf of the group calling itself the Federal State Republic of West Papua, its president Forkorus Yaboisembut, and 19 unnamed citizens of West Papua.
The complainants are urging the UN to formally formally condemn Indonesia for committing systemic human rights violations in the region.
Reverend Pihaate said the submission marked the beginning of a legal campaign for improved self-determination and independence in West Papua, as well as an end to the ongoing policy of systemic human rights violations.