West Papuan separatists declare provisional government, tell Indonesia to leave the region

West Papuan separatists say they will form a new provisional government for the region and reject Indonesia’s rule, in a significant escalation of a decades-long battle over independence.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) — a coalition of independence groups — made the announcement on its self-proclaimed independence day, which is marked on December 1 each year.

It said it planned to reclaim the land, appoint its own prime minister and cabinet, and “no longer bow down to Jakarta’s illegal martial rule”.

The move is the culmination of an increasingly violent conflict being waged between separatists and Indonesian authorities who have no plans to relinquish control of the region.