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Rights group welcomes Papua media ban lifting
Radio New Zealand International - May 11, 2015
West Papua Action Auckland says President Joko Widodo's vow, while visiting Papua on the weekend, is a hopeful sign that the rigid repression of the provinces by Indonesia could be softening. Jokowi also released five political prisoners, who had been jailed since 2003.
The group says there are many other political prisoners, including Filep Karma, who was jailed for 15 years for taking part in an event when the independence Morning Star flag was raised.
West Papua Action Auckland says many prisoners will never accept 'clemency' because it involves accepting guilt for actions that are the free expression of political aspirations.
The group is calling on Jokowi to expand the prisoner release project to include a full amnesty for all political prisoners.
West Papua Action Auckland's Maire Leadbeater says one of the biggest problems for West Papua was being shut away from the outside world and its Pacific neighbours.
"If people understand what's happening in West Papua, and they understand that the people there don't have full freedoms and their human rights are abused, then they engage with the issue more strongly, and they press their governments to engage with the issue, and I think we can start to hope for change in West Papua."
Maire Leadbeater says she's hoping media in New Zealand will now take the opportunity to visit West Papua freely, as the President has promised.
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