The Australian Greens call on the Government to urge Indonesia to put an end to the violence in West Papua, and commend journalists from the ABC’s 7.30 program who entered the region undercover recently. Their work shines a spotlight on the ongoing abuses of human and democratic rights that are occurring in West Papua, only some 200km to the north of Australia.
“The
Australian Government has known full well for some time of the
atrocities going on in West Papua, but has chosen to turn a blind eye,”
Australian Greens Leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator
Christine Milne, said.
“The
ABC exposé means Minister Carr no longer has any excuse not to pick up
the phone to his Indonesian counterpart and get some answers about what
dialogue Indonesian government is having with West Papuan
representatives.”
“Along
with many Australians, I am very alarmed by the bloodshed of recent
months, which adds to the fear experienced by the West Papuan people
over many decades of Indonesian rule over their lands,” said Senator
Richard Di Natale, Greens spokesperson for West Papua.
“The 7.30 program
has managed to gather important coverage of the current situation
there, despite considerable restrictions on journalists entering the
region. It is crucial that journalists and human rights monitors are
allowed access to West Papua.
“Australians
are now becoming more aware of these atrocities being committed on
their doorstep. They know what happened in East Timor under Indonesian
rule and they know that we, as a nation, cannot sit idly by while it
occurs again in West Papua.
“The Greens call on Foreign Minister Bob Carr to advocate
for a new dialogue between the Indonesian government and
representatives of the Papuan people. The indigenous people of West
Papua should have the opportunity to decide democratically their own
future in accordance with international standards of human rights and
the principles of international law.”
“West
Papua is a chance for Australia to show real leadership. It is a chance
for us to show that we will stand up for the values of peace and
democracy we so readily espouse.”
The
Greens will introduce a Senate motion during the next sitting period
that will call of Minister Carr to raise concerns over human rights
abuses with the Indonesian Foreign Minister and request access for human
rights monitors and foreign journalists.
The
Greens have called on the Australian government to consider its
military links to Indonesia and suspend all ties while violence
continues, attributed to Indonesian security forces acting with
impunity. We cannot stand idly by while this conflict escalates and
human rights are being abused on our doorstop.
Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600