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West Papua should be raised at the Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum in Canberra
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Media Release - November 10, 2008
The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) calls on the Australian Government to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Foreign Minister.
The Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda is leading a delegation to the 9th meeting of the Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum to be held in Canberra on November the 11th and 12th.
The meeting will discuss political, trade, economic and strategic issues and also an action plan to implement the Lombok treaty. The treaty came into force in February of this year at a ceremony in Perth which was attended by the foreign ministers of Australia and Indonesia.
Joe Collins, spokesperson for AWPA (Sydney) said "we are very concerned about the Lombok treaty and what it commits Australia to particularly in the defence field. We are concerned that any aid or training we give to the Indonesian security forces could be used against the West Papuan people. AWPA certainly has grounds for concern about the Lombok treaty. The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra tried to stop a West Papuan cultural event in Canberra using the Lombok treat as grounds to try and halt the event.
The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said at a seminar themed "Australian-Indonesia Relations - A New Partnership for A New Era" held by the CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) that "The treaty makes clear that the two countries respect and support each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity and political independence," and "We intend to make very good use of the Lombok Treaty to further strengthen our cooperation”.
AWPA is concerned that if the situation deteriorates in West Papua, Indonesia will attempt to use the Lombok treaty to stifle the freedom of speech of West Papuans and their supporters.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “we approve of having good relations with Indonesia but if Australia cannot raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government because of fear it will damage our relationship, then it is a relationship in name only ”.
AWPA calls on the Australian Government to encourage the Indonesian Government to dialogue with the West Papuan leadership and find a solution to the many issues of concern in the territory.
For more information contact Joe Collins on Mob 04077 85797
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