The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the future of self determination for West Papua and other nearby territories on 13th November 2o24, during a discussion of the Indonesian Government’s actions in West Papua:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, do His Majesty’s Government agree with the Pacific Conference of Churches that the future for West Papua, alongside Mā’ohi Nui, or French Polynesia, and Kanaky, or New Caledonia, lies in self-determination? If so, what conversations have His Majesty’s Government had with the Indonesian Government to put the case that they should give freedom to those territories they have invaded and annexed?
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): The issue here is that we support self-determination but recognise the territorial integrity of Indonesia. There are many cases where there are independence movements, including, it should be noted, here in the UK. It is usually wise for international partners to raise these sorts of issues in a very careful way. We have raised issues of human rights, but we respect, as I have said, the integrity of the borders of Indonesia.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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