International Parliamentarians for West Papua

The International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) are a cross-party political group of politicians from around the world who support self-determination for the people of West Papua.

History

IPWP were launched at the Houses of Parliament, London on 15 October 2008. Speakers at the launch included Melinda Janki (International Human Rights Lawyer), Hon. Andrew Smith MP (UK), Lord Harries (UK), Hon Lembit Öpik MP (UK), Lord Avebury (UK), Benny Wenda (West Papua), Hon. Powes Parkop MP (Papua New Guinea), Hon. Carcasses Moana Kalosil MP (Vanuatu) and Carmel Budiarjo (TAPOL).
There have been further launches of IPWP held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea hosted by Powes Parkop in September 2009, and in the European Parliament in Brussels hosted by Caroline Lucas MEP in January 2010.

IPWP was set up by exiled West Papuan independence advocate Benny Wenda, and is chaired by the British Labour Party MP Andrew Smith and Lord Harries. Smith is also the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for West Papua. The main goal of IPWP is to develop international parliamentary support and awareness for the West Papuan independence movement. The IPWP takes as its model a similar group that helped lead the independence movement of East Timor.