Disappointment at continuing Pacific Islands Forum support for colonization of West Papua
Media Release
Australia West Papua Association-WA
The Australia West Papua Association-WA is surprised and disappointed that the
THIRTY-SEVENTH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM supports the continuing colonisation
of West Papua by Indonesia through the 2001 Special Autonomy Law.
A West Papuan majority rejected the Indonesian autonomy policy during a peaceful mass
demonstration as recently as August 12, 2005. The Indonesian government did not take
into account the desires and needs of the West Papuans when drafting the Law, nor has it
implemented its own proposals for the improvement of the West Papuan’s living standards.
It is also regrettable that the Forum’s concern about reports of violence seems not to make
the connection between violence and the continuing colonial exploitation of West Papua
by various corporations and the Indonesian army who are the instigators of continuing
human rights abuses and supression of the West Papuan people.
It is positive that the Forum urges the Indonesian authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of serious crimes in West Papua, but the failure of the first test case in the new Human Rights Court in Makassar to bring those responsible to justice would suggest a more fundamental approach to Indonesia is needed.
The recent national gathering of the Australian Coalition of West Papua Support Groups called on the Pacific Island Forum to seek support from the Indonesian Government for a Forum fact finding mission ; and to assist in creating a framework for ongoing dialogue between the West Papua leadership and the Indonesia government.
Report shows Indonesian military treats PNG as its own territory
FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN (Melbourne)
MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed for release until: 0600, Wednesday 23nd August, 2006.
Report shows Indonesian military treats PNG as its own territory
An explosive report in today’s issue of The Bulletin has vindicated a field investigation into the activities of the Indonesian military (TNI) in the Papua New Guinea – West Papuan border region. This investigation was undertaken by fieldworkers from May 14 to 14 June 2006 on behalf of the Free West Papua campaign in Australia. The work was funded exclusively by grassroots donations from Australia.
“For too long the security and human rights issues present along the border of the Papua Niugini and West Papua have been ignored at the strategic peril of countries in the region,” said Nick Chesterfield, the compiler of the report, and International Officer with the Free West Papua Campaign.
“In abandoning those who fought so hard for our freedom in World War 2, we have missed out on a genuine opportunity to stop displacement of our neighbours, and to genuinely combat terrorism on our doorstep,” explained Chesterfield.
Currently a massive troop buildup is occurring on the border by the Indonesian military, who have so far managed to resist genuine civilian control within Indonesia. After the defensive killings of five security personnel and agents provocateur in the demonstrations of March 15/16, the Indonesian military and Police have conducted widespread reprisals against students and the family members of all university students in West Papua.
Chesterfield continued: “The TNI’s network of terror has now spread deep within Papua Niugini and has made its presence felt within isolated communities along the border, who are living in fear of an imminent invasion. We uncovered evidence that a massive ground offensive is in the final stages of planning, and there are questions that need to answered publicly by many people in the region to prevent this from happening.”
In recent weeks, several incidents have occurred on the border which have exacerbated the tension felt by local communities. This includes the shootings by PNGDF of fisherman suspected to be undercover TNI, in circumstances that are still unclear, amid claims of a PNG Government ordered cover-up. There have also been widespread allegations of illegal crossings by Kostrad and Kopassus personnel.
Also just this morning, the Indonesian Consul-General in Vanimo, Hardojo, refused to stop to go through passport control at the Wutung border crossing. According to a police officer who spoke with Mr Chesterfield, “He said he was late for an important military meeting in Jayapura, and was too busy to wait for Immigration. He just ignored our orders, walked across the no man’s land, hopped in a taxi and drove away. But what can we do?”
“Before PNG was independent, the Indonesian military government already had a long standing plan to annexe PNG. The TNI have gradually come to control the economy of PNG with the help of corrupt figures in the PNG government,” said Jacob Rumbiak, Foreign Affairs Co-ordinator with the West Papua National Authority
According to Rumbiak, the TNI “are using the pretext of the demonstrations on March 16 to hunt to their deaths students throughout the border region, terrorizing local people. This is being done to prevent West Papuan people speaking out about military abuses and the genuine aspirations for their self-determination.”
“Now these latest incidents on the border are showing that PNG people also are waking up to the TNI’s plans to destroy the territorial integrity and dignity of PNG.”
Central to this is the appointment of Major General Zamroni of Kopassus as the new military commander of West Papua. When contacted by the Free West Papua Campaign today, Dr Clinton Fernandes, author of Reluctant Indonesians: the future of West Papua and senior lecturer in strategic studies at UNSW, said “Major General Zamroni’s appointment shows the Indonesian military’s thorough disregard for the wishes of the civilian administration.”
“Zamroni was once deputy commander of Kopassus under the murderous Lieutenant-General Prabowo. Extra-judicial murder and other forms of state terror were and remain a specialty of this organisation. Australians should keep this in mind when they hear their government’s preference for closer links with the Indonesian military,” explained Fernandes.
Photographic and witness evidence was also found that shows clearly that Timbul Silaen, the infamous and indicted former police commander of West Papua (and the police chief during the carnage of 1999 in East Timor), is present in West Papua and overseeing militia activity.
“Questions need to be asked about what these people are doing in West Papua at the time where there of a militia build-up, and a renewed presence across West Papua of the very “rogue elements” that have such a brutal history,” said Chesterfield
SHAMEFUL DECISION ON BORDER ASYLUM BILL
FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN (Melbourne)
www.freewestpapua.com
MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Thursday 1Ost August, 2006.
SHAMEFUL DECISION ON BORDER ASYLUM BILL
Campaigners today expressed sadness at the today’s passing of the Howard Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill through the lower house of parliament, in an attempt to prevent all asylum seekers who arrive by boat from access to legal support and court processes.
If successful, the bill will ensure that refugees will remain locked up on Nauru indefinitely or other offshore locations, and will reverse hard won concessions (regarding the indefinite detention of children and women) made by the government under extraordinary pressure from church and community groups.
“We feel shame that today Parliament passed a legislation that if enacted, will result in people fleeing from extreme military violence being either turned straight back to their pursuers, or to be held incommunicado without access to legal support,” said Nick Chesterfield, spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign in Melbourne.
“We congratulate Petro Georgiou, Russell Broadbent and Judi Moylan for acting according to conscience today by crossing the floor to vote against this shameful act, although we are surprised at the decision by Bruce Baird to abstain from voting,”
“Furthermore, we cannot understand why Australia is wanting to expose itself to further international shame by drafting legislation designed to appease a brutal and criminal military regime in violation of Australian and international law,” said Chesterfield.
Chesterfield said that the government’s stance would not stop people from resisting this unjust law, nor would it stop the reality of people fleeing from extreme violence the world over.
“However, we still call on the government and independent members of conscience in the upper house to take a stand consistent with humanity, and Australia’s obligations under International Law, and block this legislation’s passage through the Senate”
“People will continue to flee and attempt a crossing until the Indonesian military stops it genocidal reign of terror in West Papua. No amount of border protection smoke and mirrors will change this reality, and it is our duty as humans to help people achieve protection, not assist in their persecution. This bill cannot be allowed to pass.”
MEDIA RELEASE: CAMPAIGNERS CELEBRATE FREEDOM FOR LAST OF THE 43
FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN (Melbourne)
www.freewestpapua.com
MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Tuesday 1st August, 2006.
CAMPAIGNERS CELEBRATE FREEDOM FOR LAST OF THE 43
Campaigners from Free West Papua Campaign in Melbourne have welcomed the decision by the Refugee Review Tribunal in overturning the original Immigration Department rejection of David Wainggai’s application for Refugee Status.
“We are heartened that the facts surrounding Mr Wainggai’s decision to flee persecution from the Indonesian military’s violence in West Papua have been upheld,” said Nick Chesterfield, spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign in Melbourne.
Mr Chesterfield explained that the solitary incarceration of David Wainggai on Christmas Island had been inhumane, expensive and unnecessary. “It will be a relief for both David and his friends and family here in Melbourne to finally stand with David to allow him to continue a normal life free of persecution.”
This decision had been made despite the moves by the Australian government to appease the Indonesian military by attempting to change Australia’s immigration policy. “This is an opportunity for the Australian government to stop acting like the Swiss Border Guards turning the Jews back to the Nazis, and start acting legally in its obligations to provide protection to those who genuinely require it.”
Mr Chesterfield called on dissenting government members to also utilise this opportunity to vote against Howard’s attempts to push through the changes to Immigration law that was scheduled for the first sitting week.
Mr Chesterfield said he welcomed the inevitable public debate this will bring between Australia and Indonesia. “We want to reiterate to the Indonesian people that this is a decision that stands against appeasement of the brutal Indonesian military that killed over two million Indonesians also. It is not about the Indonesian people, it never has been. This is about people fleeing from military oppression.”
WEST PAPUA SUPPORTERS REBUFF HOWARD
FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN (Melbourne)
www.freewestpapua.com
MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Friday 7 April, 2006.
WEST PAPUA SUPPORTERS REBUFF HOWARD
Responding to comments made today by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the Free West Papua Campaign strongly criticised any plans to interfere with the process by which visas are granted to Papuan asylum seekers.
Campaign spokesperson, Nick Chesterfield, claims if Howard is concerned about the likely increase in asylum seekers from West Papua, the PM needs to address the problem of escalating human right abuses committed by the Indonesian military.
“People are simply fleeing from persecution. The bottom line is, while the killing and violence continues, people will continue to attempt to escape from the brutal repression being served up by the Indonesian military,” Mr Chesterfield said.
“If our Prime Minister is worried about more Papuan refugees seeking asylum in Australia, then he must start to make it clear that his Government will not continue to turn a blind eye to the blatant human right abuses that continue to occur in West Papua,” Mr Chesterfield said.
The campaign was also surprised by Howard’s remarks about terrorism.
“The biggest merchant of terror in our region is the Indonesian military. This should be a real concern for John Howard. The issue of West Papua can not simply be swept under the carpet. The Australian Government can and should play a role in pressuring the Indonesian Government to rein in its cowboy military,” Mr Chesterfield said.
MEDIA RELEASE: SUN April 2, 12pm PROTEST, MARCH AND MUSIC TO WELCOME PAPUAN REFUGEES
FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN (Melbourne)
www.freewestpapua.com
MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release: Friday 31 April 2006
PROTEST, MARCH AND MUSIC TO WELCOME PAPUAN REFUGEES
Meeting at 12pm this Sunday at the State Library, Free West Papua Campaigners will be calling for ‘an end to the war on our door step’ with a protest march against the human rights abuses committed by the Indonesia Military, followed by a celebration of West Papuan culture and music at the Treasury Gardens.
Addressing the rally will be Anglican minister Peter Woods who witnessed and photographed a violent clash between anti-Freeport mine protesters and police in Abepura outside the Cendrawasih University in West Papua on March 16.
The Reverend Peter Woods will retell how Indonesia security forces embarked on retaliatory attacks, bashing and killing a number of local Papuans and of the cover-up that followed.
“There were wounded people, including children. Children had been shot,” Mr Woods said.
Greens Senator Bob Brown, who will also be addressing the rally said West Papua, one of Australia’s nearest neighbouring countries, was in turmoil because of the brutality of the Indonesian military and the continued attempts to destroy their culture.
“West Papua deserves its day in the sun. It should have a legal act of self-determination, the same as East Timor, and of course the Australian government has to take refugees when there’s such a bloody crackdown as is occurring under the Indonesian military at the moment,” Senator Brown said.
Senator Brown believes the Australian government should be lobbying in the United Nations for a fair, transparent and secure process to implement a true act of self-determination.
“The West Papuans are not part of Indonesia, never were, never wanted to be,
and never should be,” Senator Brown said.
The organisers of the rally are encouraging Melbournians to come out in large numbers to take a stand against the bloody violence being unleashed by the ‘greatest merchant of terror in our region’ – the Indonesian military.
=============
Resources
Security treaty text pulled from The Australian website
This is the text of the pulled Indonesian requested Australian Government appeasement treaty, designed to ensure we turn a blind eye to ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua and Indonesia.
Not Likely. Stay Tuned for a intensive campaign to oppose the ratification of the treaty by the Australian PArliament in February 07. In the meantime, please phone up all your local reresentatives nd start making some noise.
ABC: Scale of human rights abuses in Papua under dispute
The World Today – Scale of human rights abuses in Papua under dispute
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1739276.htm]
The World Today – Tuesday, 12 September , 2006 12:30:00
Reporter: Steve Marshall
ELEANOR HALL: Activists supporting Papuan independence from Indonesia have rejected a report by the International Crisis Group, which says there’s no evidence that Indonesian security forces are perpetrating genocide in that province.
Melbourne April 2 NDA Free West Papua Rally Poster
Please distribute and put up widely…