Benny Wenda, the leaders of United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has declared the independence of West Papua and the establishment of interim separate government apart from Indonesia despite the refusal from a massive organisation with more or less has the similar purpose – Papua Liberation Organisation (OPM). The OPM itself did not approve the idea since it is considered not truly relevant to the struggles and missions of the organisation.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs of Indonesia, Mahfud MD, stated to the media that there is nothing to worry about. “What he has declared on Twitter was an illusory country. For a country to be established, there must be some elements in it: residents, regions and government. Now, where is the government? There is none. He rebelled. Where is the region? Papua is still part of us as Indonesia. And who are the residents? People of Papua themselves do not want to accredit him as their leader,”Mahfud said. Another requirement is the recognition from other countries and the entry to international organisations. Then he also added that such declaration is just did not make any sense coming from a person with no nationality nor citizenship status, since he is exiled from Indonesia and currently living in the United Kingdom as a guest. "He was imprisoned for a treason and he escaped the jail, moving to the UK with his family. Even with a British citizenship status, according to international law, he still cannot be a president of West Papua."

Source : https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/mahfud-md-benny-wenda-membuat-negara-ilusi-/5685784.html https://voi.id/en/berita/21809/opm-called-benny-wenda-influenced-by-the-us-and-australia-in-the-west-papua-government-declaration

Source : https://en.antaranews.com/news/163020/benny-wenda-is-creating-an-illusory-state-minister-mahfud