Subject: promotion of democratic and equitable international order
From: Andrew Johnson <
To: Alfred de Zayas <
CC: Ned <
Date: Friday 06:07:26 AM
Dear Special Rapporteur,
I draw to your urgent attention the following facts:
Under General Assembly resolution 1752 (XVII) and the cited agreement which fulfilled requirements of chapter 12 of the charter, the United Nations became the administrator of West Papua (West New Guinea) in 1962.
In 1962 the colony of West New Guinea was singled out for special treatment by having its name without explanation removed from the list of non-self governing territories. The colony of West New Guinea in 1962 was singled out for special treatment when the UN staff decided they no longer wanted reports about conditions in the colony under either 73(e) or 87 and 88 of the charter.
The stated purpose alleged in the 1962 agreement is that it was for benfit of the Papuan peoplke, but the stated purpose alleged by the US Department of State as disclosed in 1995 was that it had been for benefit of the United States which in 1962 wanted to please Sukarno.
The on-going effect of the agreement has been the suspension of human rights for the people of West New Guinea and the on-going denial of the "act of self-determination" defined in the agreement and defined in General Assembly resolutions 1514 and 1541 (XV). I will leave it to others to tell you about some of the human rights abuses which this inequitable international treatment of West New Guinea has been causing.
I note that General Assembly resolution 2504 (XXIV) asserted the Netherlands and Indonesia were happy about a procedure designed and implemented in the territory which they called "act of free choice". Whether or not there was dancing in the streets by Indonesia and the Netherlands, the Secretary-General was unable to express his opinion that Indonesia had allowed an "act of self-determination" as defined in the agreement or had fulfilled articles 14 to 20 of the agreement.
It took Indonesia 25 years to learn how to fulfil its UN obligation of allowing self-determination in East Timor, and it should not be a surprise that it has taken 50 years so far before Indonesia has come to a point where ut may be able to allow the "act of self-determination" promised in the 1962 agreement.
The economic reality is that Indonesia can not afford to break trade relations with the UN membership and as in 1999 would be unable to resist demand by the membership for allowing the referendum with "eligibility of all adults, male and female, not foreign nationals to participate in the act of self-determination to be carried out in accordance with international practice"
I ask that you take up the issue of self-determination for the territory of West New Guinea without delay and I recommend that you suggest to the current President of the Trusteeship Council that under rule 1 of the council's rules of procedure he call an urgent meeting of the Trusteeship Council. I would recommend to the Trusteeship Council that it make use of the provision provided by General Assembly resolution 171 (II) to request the ICJ to assist with advice on this matter.
I and the people of West Papua await news of your success in promoting democratic and equitable international order by calling for West Papua's right of self-determination.
A Johnson
Sydney, Australia
promotion of democratic and equitable international order
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