NEW ZEALAND: Green MPs raise Morning Star flag

Green members of New Zealand's national parliament raised West Papua's Morning Star flag on the steps of parliament on October 18 to welcome Free West Papua Movement (OPM) representative and West Papuan exile John Ondawame.

Ondawame met with New Zealand's minister of foreign affairs, foreign affairs officials and the parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee.

In a speech to the House of Representatives on October 18, Green MP Keith Locke urged the New Zealand government to call for the immediate withdrawal of the Indonesian military and police from West Papua, and for the Indonesian government to enter a dialogue with the Papuan Presidium Council for a peaceful process of self-determination. He also urged Wellington to join the Vanuatu and Nauru governments in supporting observer status for West Papua at the South Pacific Forum.

From GLW issue 425