27 Mar 2019

Violence in Papua must end before negotiations - NZ Foreign Minister

5:30 pm on 27 March 2019

New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has called for an end to violence in Indonesia's Papua province.

Winston Peters following a Cabinet meeting on gun law reform, 18 March.

Winston Peters following a Cabinet meeting on gun law reform, 18 March. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Mr Peters was responding to a letter from a representative of the West Papua Liberation Army, which is waging war with Indonesia's military in Papua.

The Liberation Army has said it's open to negotiations but dozens have died in gunfire exchanges with soldiers since December.

The foreign minister said for peaceful negotiations to succeed, all sides had to "renounce conflict and cease hostilities."

Mr Peters said New Zealand "continues to strongly urge all parties to end the violence."

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