National Security Archive

Documents Show US Backed Sham Papua Vote

Newly declassified documents reveal the US government supported Indonesia's brutal takeover of West Papua despite overwhelming Papuan opposition and United Nations' requirement for genuine self-determination. Not surprisingly, the documents also show former US national security advisor Henry Kissinger played a key role in Washington’s ultimate decision to ignore the fact that West Papua’s 1969 “act of free choice” was a sham.