Radio Australia reported that Vanuatu’s parliament has unanimously passed a motion calling for the International Court of Justice to investigate the legality of West Papua becoming part of Indonesia. According to Radio Australia, the motion was jointly sponsored by Prime Minister Edward Natapei and opposition leader Maxime Carlot Korman
The resolution will ask the U.N. General Assembly to ask the international court to look into the manner in which the mainly Melanesian and Christian western half of New Guinea island was incorporated into the Asian and Islamic country of Indonesia in the 1960s. The U.N. General Assembly would make such a request under the ICJ's advisory jurisdiction.
The passage of the motion by all Vanuatu members of parliament has been welcomed by the diplomatic representative of the Free Papua Movement in Port Vila, Andy Ayamiseba, who said that he hopes that other Melanesian countries follow Vanuatu's example.
Hat tip to the East-West Center in Honolulu
(mew)