Fourm Supports Continuing Papua Colonisation

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.

ENDS

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