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West Papua supporters rebuff Howard

Free West Papua Campaign (Melbourne) Press Release - April 7, 2006

Responding to comments made today by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the Free West Papua Campaign strongly criticised any plans to interfere with the process by which visas are granted to Papuan asylum seekers.

Campaign spokesperson, Nick Chesterfield, claims if Howard is concerned about the likely increase in asylum seekers from West Papua, the PM needs to address the problem of escalating human right abuses committed by the Indonesian military.

"People are simply fleeing from persecution. The bottom line is, while the killing and violence continues, people will continue to attempt to escape from the brutal repression being served up by the Indonesian military," Mr Chesterfield said.

"If our Prime Minister is worried about more Papuan refugees seeking asylum in Australia, then he must start to make it clear that his Government will not continue to turn a blind eye to the blatant human right abuses that continue to occur in West Papua," Mr Chesterfield said.

The campaign was also surprised by Howard's remarks about terrorism.

"The biggest merchant of terror in our region is the Indonesian military. This should be a real concern for John Howard. The issue of West Papua can not simply be swept under the carpet. The Australian Government can and should play a role in pressuring the Indonesian Government to rein in its cowboy military," Mr Chesterfield said.

For more information, please contact Nick Chesterfield on 0409 268 978 or manukoreri@riseup.net

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