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PNG PM speaks out on West Papua

Radio New Zealand International - February 6, 2015

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• Papuan students rally against Freeport smelter plans – Jakarta Post. February 4, 2015
• Jokowi urged to uphold human rights in Papua, prosecute violators – Jakarta Post. February 1, 2015

In a departure from his previous deferral to Indonesia on such matters, Peter O'Neill says that PNG cannot keep ignoring abuses by security forces against the indigenous Melanesians of Indonesia's eastern region.

He made the comment at a PNG leaders summit in Port Moresby where he set out his government's core policies for 2015.

Referring to West Papuans as "our people", Mr O'Neill admitted to fellow PNG leaders that sometimes they have forgotten the plight of their fellow Melanesians across the border.

"Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on the social media, and yet we take no notice. We have the moral obligation to speak for those who are not allowed to talk. We must be the eyes for those who are blindfolded."

Peter O'Neill has suggested he will look to engage more with Jakarta on the issue.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/265454/png-pm-speaks-out-on-west-papua.

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