West Papuan Refugees Hope for PNG Citizenship
Access to citizenship could prove the best hope yet for thousands of West Papuan refugees living in Papua New Guinea (PNG). “I want citizenship. I’ve been here 28 years and want to get on with my life,” said Donatus Karuri, a 57-year-old father of six, outside the shelter he shares with five other families at the Hohola refugee settlement. It is one of four settlements for West Papuan refugees in the capital Port Moresby. Like most West Papuan refugees, he is unable to work legally and has only limited access to public services. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are more than 9,000 West Papuan refugees in PNG today, many of whom have been in the Pacific island nation for over three decades. Others know no other home and can’t imagine living anywhere else. “I was born here. This is the only country I know,” said Dan Hanasbey, 27, another refugee wanting citizenship. Flight From Indonesia Between 1984 and 1986, more than 11,000 West Papuans fled east into PNG from the w