Dáil deputies urge UN to review role in takeover of West Papua
Ireland is thought to be the first country in Europe where a majority of elected representatives have made such a move.
Some 88 TDs from all parties signed a letter asking the UN to review the so-called "Act of Free Choice", which rubber-stamped Indonesia's control of the territory in 1969.
The signatories include Minister of State Tim O'Malley and former Foreign Affairs Minster of State Liz O'Donnell.
Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen's Fianna Fáil running mates in Laois/Offaly, John Maloney TD and Sean Fleming TD, and the constituency's Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright also signed.
The letter campaign organised by West Papua Action Ireland comes as a senior West Papuan delegation visits Ireland today.
"It is highly significant that the Dáil is the first democratic parliament to support this call for a review of the UN's role," said Mark Doris of West Papua Action Ireland (WPAI).
"It is a huge step forward for West Papuans who have been left out in the cold by the international community for over 40 years."
In 1969, an "Act of Free Choice" was conducted among 1,022 West Papuans hand-picked by Indonesia out of a population of one million.
They voted unanimously in favour of incorporating West Papua, a former Dutch colony, with Indonesia, a decision controversially accepted by the UN.
Mr Doris said it was conservatively estimated that 100,000 people had died directly as a result of Indonesian rule in West Papua.
He said a report compiled by Yale University Law School last December found evidence that the Indonesian military was culpable of genocide in West Papua.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Government was concerned that such a review might prejudice any efforts to initiate dialogue with the Indonesian government and would not improve the condition of the Papuan people.
She said the Government was monitoring the situation in West Papua and urged the Indonesian authorities to respect the rights and interests of the people there.
She added that the department felt that a solution could only be found through dialogue and negotiation.
