This book, key ring and banner (not shown) are a reminder of the West Papua Action campaign I was involved in, in Ireland in the 1990’s. Sixty years ago today (August 15th)) in 1962 the New York Agreement was signed in the United Nations in NYC. It was an agreement between the Netherlands and Indonesia that was supposed lead to self-determination for West Papua within six years, but this never happened. West Papua was a Dutch colony, but instead of independence there was a rigged vote called The Act of No Choice to force the country to assimilate into Indonesia. The West Papua Action Campaign in Ireland highlighted the injustices and successfully lobbied 88 TDs to endorse the Campaign in 1996, much to the annoyance of Indonesia. I chose this object as I felt a connection between MacDonagh and his involvement in 1916 and the ongoing freedom struggles going on around the world to this day.
