West Papua
Left: Herman Wainggai, spokesman for the 2006 Papuan refugees and human rights advocate for West Papua speaking in front of Parliament House, Canberra
Centre: Papuans protesting at Parliament House. This is the traditional form of protest over the past decades, where the “Morning Star” flag (right hand side) is raised. Papuans have been jailed, tortured and murdered for this. Watch the protest at Papuans dancing at Parliament House.
Right: Jacob Rumbiak, another Papuan human rights advocate was jailed and tortured for 10 years for organising peaceful protests such as the one at Parliament House.
Join the Campaign
Step 1. Learn the facts at the Campaign Library
Step 2. Stay informed and discuss the issues at News on West Papua and the links to the right
Step 3. Get what you need to find your place in the campaign by visiting The War Room
TOPICS NEEDING YOUR LETTERS
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A January report by the United Nations looking into treatment of human rights defenders found in West Papua that
“…when defenders expose abuse of authority or other forms of human rights violations committed by the security apparatus, they are labeled as separatists in order to undermine their credibility…”. It also found that people who had been labelled in this way were at serious risk.
Indonesian law allows for imprisonment of separatists. This is a breach of human rights itself[1], but it is even worse when the so-called separatists are actually human rights defenders. As Australia’s “Lombok Treaty” with Indonesia commits us to “non support of separatism”, the international community will logically believe that we support Indonesia’s actions to suppress separatism unless we make it very clear that this is not the case. Australia needs to raise the UN report with President Yudhoyono in an international setting (consistent with the recommendations of the JSCOT report on the Lombok Treaty). We need to make it clear that we do not in any way support Indonesia’s actions, and offer assistance where necessary to combat the ongoing atmosphere of cruelty in West Papua.
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In mid January 2008, the Indonesian Governor of West Papua Barnabas Suebu ordered the police to enforce the newly made Article 6 of Government Regulation 77, 2007 which makes it illegal to “display, sell or use” any article or logo used by a separatist movement. If you know about Papua’s history of peaceful protest with the Morning Star flag [1], you’ll realise this is a huge problem. The current democratic rule claims to support free speech consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but this new law is a significant step backward; once again giving legal justification for forcefully silencing peaceful protest. Read more details here & here, pray, and please consider writing. Ask our government to speak boldly to Indonesia over this direct breach of International Law. Point out that our Government need not support the separatist movement itself, only that it ask Indonesia to abide by the relevant International Laws (Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19).
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ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,
Foreign Minister Steven Smith or
Member for Eden-Monaro & Secretary of Defence Mike Kelly
at PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House,
Canberra ACT 2600
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Some achievements and ideas so far
Media
“Rose voices concern for West Papua”
“Do you stand up for your mates when they’re in a fight?”
“Are Australians as cruel as our government thinks we are?”
Political Pressure
Political Candidates and Social Justice