WPNCL Rejects Benny Wenda's Leadership

Benny Wenda. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) rejects the leadership of Benny Wenda as the leader of Papuan independence. This is based on the difference in attitude between WPNCL and The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

The decision was taken after WPNCL mandate holder Ben Yanteo, WPNCL Founder Alex Makabori, WPNCL Member Zet Giyai and WPNCL TPN OPM Commander Terianus Sato held a meeting in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Sunday 6 February.

Present at the meeting were the commander of the TPN OPM WPNCL troops in the Tabi region, Dance; staff of the TPN OPM WPNCL headquarters, Jersi; the Commander of the TPN OPM WPNCL, Terianus Sato; and WPNCL member Maikel Mandabayan," said Ben Yanteo in a written statement, Monday, February 7.

During the meeting it was decided that WPNCL as one of the factions that founded the ULMWP through the 2014 Saralana Declaration, rejected Benny Wenda's leadership in the ULMWP. This is because ULMWP is no longer in accordance with the initial agreement as a coordinating organization.

"WPNCL realizes that the leadership of ULMWP is no longer in accordance with the initial agreement, namely coordinating. Therefore, WPNCL declares itself to immediately take over the leadership of ULMWP from Benny Wenda," he stressed.

In addition, Ben Yanteo also emphasized that since 2020 the ULMWP leadership should be held by a WPNCL representative, but until now the ULMWP leadership is still held by Benny Wenda who is domiciled in Oxford, England.

Ben Yanteo emphasized that his party had had a constitutional form of interim government since 2003 before the ULMWP and the government declared by Benny Wenda some time ago.

In addition, in the near future WPNCL will hold a working meeting to discuss the political strategy following the statement of position.