04/11/2026
REPUBLIC OF WEST MELANESIA
WEST PAPUA NATIONAL AUTHORITY (WPNA)
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Washington, D.C., United States of America
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
WEST MELANESIAN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CALLS ON PRESIDENT PRABOWO SUBIANTO TO INITIATE DIRECT POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF WEST MELANESIA
THE WASHINGTON SOLUTION: A PEACEFUL DIPLOMATIC PATHWAY TOWARD RESOLVING THE LONG-STANDING POLITICAL CONFLICT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. | November 04 2026
The Executive Leadership of the Republic of West Melanesia, represented by the West Papua National Authority (WPNA), formally calls upon His Excellency President Prabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia to demonstrate political leadership by initiating direct, meaningful, and internationally supported dialogue with representatives of the Indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua.
For more than six decades, the political status of West Papua has remained a matter of international concern, historical disagreement, human rights challenges, and continuing political conflict. The Executive Leadership believes that a lasting and peaceful resolution cannot be achieved through military approaches, political restrictions, or economic development policies alone.
The question of West Melanesia requires a political solution grounded in international law, historical justice, human dignity, and the right of peoples to self-determination. The time has come to move beyond confrontation and establish a credible diplomatic process that addresses the fundamental political aspirations of the Melanesian people.
1. A DIRECT MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT PRABOWO SUBIANTO
Mr. Herman Wainggai, Leader and Spokesperson of the West Papua National Authority and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of West Melanesia, currently residing in political exile in the United States, issued the following statement:
“President Prabowo Subianto, we call upon your government to demonstrate genuine political leadership by opening direct and peaceful dialogue with our Melanesian people.
“The conflict in West Papua is not simply an issue of economic development or regional administration. It is a fundamental political question concerning our history, identity, dignity, and the future of our nation.
“For decades, our people have called for justice, freedom, and recognition of their fundamental rights. We believe Indonesia and the Melanesian people must now move beyond confrontation and begin serious political negotiations toward a peaceful and lasting resolution.”
Mr. Wainggai further emphasized that any dialogue must be based on mutual political respect, meaningful representation, and a genuine willingness to address the political status and future of West Melanesia.
2. THE WASHINGTON SOLUTION: A FORMAL PROPOSAL FOR PEACE
The Executive Leadership reaffirms its commitment to the Washington Solution, a diplomatic and legal framework proposed to advance a peaceful resolution of the West Papua political conflict.
The Washington Solution provides a framework for constructive engagement between the Government of Indonesia and representatives of the Melanesian people, with appropriate international facilitation.
The Executive Leadership calls upon President Prabowo Subianto to consider this proposal as a foundation for initiating direct political negotiations.
The proposed diplomatic process should address five essential priorities:
FIRST: DIRECT POLITICAL DIALOGUE
The Government of Indonesia should engage in meaningful political negotiations with representatives of the Indigenous Melanesian people, including those advocating peacefully for independence and self-determination.
SECOND: INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION AND FACILITATION
The United States, the United Nations, and relevant regional partners should be invited to support and facilitate a credible, peaceful, transparent, and internationally supported dialogue process.
THIRD: INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
The political future of West Melanesia should be addressed in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, international human rights law, and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) concerning the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.
FOURTH: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION
The Government of Indonesia should facilitate access for independent international human rights observers and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms to assess the situation in West Papua.
FIFTH: A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SETTLEMENT
The parties should explore a mutually agreed international legal and political process through which the Melanesian people can freely express their aspirations concerning their political future.
These five priorities represent a summary of the proposed negotiating agenda and do not constitute the complete text of the Washington Solution.
3. THE HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL FOUNDATION OF WEST MELANESIA
The Executive Leadership reaffirms the historical and political significance of the proclamation of the Republic of West Melanesia on December 14, 1988, by the late Dr. Thomas Wainggai.
For the West Papua National Authority, the proclamation represents an important expression of the Melanesian people’s aspirations for national identity, political freedom, and self-determination.
The leadership recognizes that the historical circumstances surrounding West Papua’s incorporation into Indonesia remain central to the political and legal questions requiring international attention.
In particular, the 1962 New York Agreement and the 1969 Act of Free Choice remain important subjects of historical and legal discussion.
The Executive Leadership maintains that these historical questions should be addressed through peaceful diplomatic engagement, international law, and a credible political process.
Our position is that historical disagreements must not become permanent obstacles to peace. Instead, they should provide the foundation for meaningful dialogue and a peaceful political settlement.
4. OUR MESSAGE IS PEACE, NOT WAR
Mr. Wainggai emphasized that the West Melanesian political struggle remains committed to diplomacy, dialogue, and nonviolent engagement.
He stated:
“President Prabowo, our message is not a declaration of war against Indonesia. Our message is an invitation to peace.
“We are prepared to pursue dialogue through diplomacy, international law, and nonviolent political engagement.
“We do not seek hostility between the Indonesian people and the Melanesian people. We seek a future in which our rights, identity, dignity, and political aspirations are respected.
“Indonesia must understand that genuine peace cannot be built by ignoring the political aspirations of the Indigenous Melanesian people.
“Lasting peace requires justice, mutual respect, and meaningful political dialogue.”
The Executive Leadership emphasizes that its diplomatic approach is based on the principles of peace, love, nonviolence, and respect for human dignity.
5. A CALL TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
The Executive Leadership of the Republic of West Melanesia calls upon the Government of the United States of America to encourage constructive diplomatic engagement between Indonesia and representatives of the Melanesian people.
As the proposed Washington Solution originates from diplomatic advocacy in Washington, D.C., the United States is encouraged to support international efforts toward a peaceful and negotiated political settlement.
The Executive Leadership also invites:
✍🏼 The United Nations and its relevant human rights and decolonization mechanisms;
✍🏼 The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF);
✍🏼 The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG);
✍🏼. The Government of the United States;
✍🏼 Relevant Pacific Island governments; and
✍🏼 Other international partners committed to peaceful conflict resolution.
We encourage these institutions and governments to support meaningful dialogue, international human rights protection, and a peaceful political process.
The Executive Leadership believes that the Washington Solution provides an opportunity to move from decades of political confrontation toward constructive diplomatic negotiations.
6. PRESIDENT PRABOWO: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORIC POLITICAL DIALOGUE
In his concluding statement, Mr. Herman Wainggai declared:
“President Prabowo Subianto, your government has an opportunity to initiate a new chapter in the relationship between Indonesia and the Melanesian people by choosing dialogue over confrontation and peaceful negotiations over continued political conflict.
“Our Melanesian people deserve a future free from fear, violence, discrimination, and political uncertainty. They deserve the opportunity to determine their political destiny through peaceful and democratic means.
“We are ready to participate in a serious diplomatic process. We call upon your government to respond with the same commitment to peace.
“The Washington Solution is our peaceful proposal. We extend our hand for dialogue, and we invite Indonesia to respond.
“The future of West Melanesia must be addressed through justice, international law, and the freely expressed will of the Melanesian people.”
7. OUR FINAL POSITION: A COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL POLITICAL RESOLUTION
The Executive Leadership of the Republic of West Melanesia reaffirms the following principles:
WE SEEK DIALOGUE, NOT VIOLENCE.
WE SEEK JUSTICE, NOT REVENGE.
WE SEEK PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS, NOT MILITARY CONFRONTATION.
WE SEEK RECOGNITION OF OUR MELANESIAN IDENTITY, DIGNITY, AND RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.
WE SEEK AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AND POLITICAL PROCESS THAT RESPECTS THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE CALL UPON PRESIDENT PRABOWO SUBIANTO TO INITIATE DIRECT POLITICAL DIALOGUE THROUGH THE WASHINGTON SOLUTION.
The political future of West Melanesia deserves a peaceful, democratic, and internationally supported process.
The time for meaningful political dialogue is now.
PEACE • LOVE • NONVIOLENCE
DIPLOMACY • DIALOGUE • SELF-DETERMINATION: FREE WEST MELANESIA
ISSUED BY:
HERMAN WAINGGAI
Leader and Spokesperson
West Papua National Authority (WPNA)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of West Melanesia
Political Leader in Exile
Washington, D.C.
United States of America
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Republic of West Melanesia
West Papua National Authority (WPNA)
Herman Wainggai
