NGO Coalition on Human Rights calls on Fiji: Don’t be bought into silence while West Papua bleeds
15 May, 2025
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji (NGOCHR), in partnership with solidarity networks, expresses deep concern over the Fiji Prime Minister’s ongoing bilateral engagements with Indonesia — a relationship that appears to overlook the ongoing human rights atrocities by Indonesia against the people of West Papua.
The Coalition strongly condemns Rabuka’s recent remarks regarding West Papua’s sovereignty—stating it is “for the sovereign state of Indonesia to address”—as a failure to uphold Fiji’s longstanding commitment to human rights and regional solidarity.
“Rabuka and the Coalition Government are detached from the values that Fijians hold dear.
History will judge how we respond as Fijians to this moment. We must not stay silent when Pacific people are being occupied and killed,”said NGOCHR Chair Shamima Ali.
During PM Rabuka’s official visit to Indonesia on April 23–24, 2025, the Government of Fiji was extended a grant of FJ$12 million (US$6 million) aimed at alleviating Fiji’s national debt, and received proposals for joint military training. Is Fiji’s continuing silence on West Papua yet another example of being muzzled by purse strings?
These transactions, in the wake of the solemnity of Easter, evokes a powerful parable: the act of betrayal when Jesus was handed over for crucifixion for thirty pieces of silver.
As members of the Melanesian and Pacific family, bound by shared ancestry and identity, the acceptance of financial and any other benefit from Indonesia—while remaining silent on the plight of West Papua—is a betrayal of our family member and of regional solidarity.
The Coalition urges Rabuka to reflect deeply on the moral weight of his role as MSG Special Envoy and as a Pacific leader.
Indonesia continues to rely on a military approach that perpetuates ongoing human rights violations in West Papua. While we receive foreign aid, Indigenous West Papuans are being forced to flee their ancestral lands as a result of Indonesia’s military operations. Between 2018 and March 2025, approximately 80,000 people from remote regions of West Papua have been internally displaced — a worsening humanitarian crisis that calls for urgent regional attention and action.
Fiji’s vision of an ‘Ocean of Peace’ would indeed ring hollow if it continues to entertain bilateral defence cooperation with Indonesia.
Despite long standing calls by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders for Indonesia to allow access for a UN Human Rights fact-finding mission, Indonesia has yet to respond. As both a dialogue partner of the PIF and an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Indonesia must be held accountable by regional leaders for these human rights violations.
True leadership must be rooted in solidarity, justice, and accountability. It is imperative that Pacific leaders not only advocate for peace and cooperation in the region, but also continue to hold Indonesia to account on ongoing human rights violations in West Papua.
We call on Pacific leaders to reject any form of aid or partnership that compromises our moral obligation to stand with and speak out for the people of West Papua. Our voice must never be for sale. The people of Fiji remain deeply concerned and continue to stand in unwavering solidarity with West Papua in the face of ongoing human rights violations.
We call on the Government of Fiji to:
- renew its commitment to uphold human rights, including the fundamental universal principle of self-determination, and the values that have long defined our region—respect, dignity of all people, justice, peace, shared responsibility and solidarity;
- prioritise, uphold and protect the dignity of the people of West Papua and to ensure that Fiji’s diplomatic relations with Indonesia are not furthered or conducted in any manner that would compromise these priorities; and
- hold Indonesia accountable for its ongoing human rights violations in West Papua
-ENDS
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Shamima Ali
NGOCHR Chair
fwcc.shamima@gmail.com
Semi Turaga
semi@fijiwomen.com
Rosa Moiwend
PANG