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West Papuan refugees returning home

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Press Release - October 10, 2009

It is understandable that some West Papuan refugees who have been in exile in PNG since the 1980's may want to return home to reunite with family members and in the hope things have changed for the better in their homeland. It is difficult being a refugee in any country and it is natural to want to improve life for your family and children.

However, the reality is they are returning to a West Papua where there are ongoing human rights abuses and where the military and police can act with impunity against the West Papuan people. The West Papuan people have the poorest health standards in the archipelago although West Papua is rich in natural resources.

Joe Collins of AWPA said that "the most important thing is that any West Papuan refugees returning to West Papua for whatever reason, are guaranteed their safety and that the UNHCR (and the media) regularly monitor the returning refugees to this end. It is also the duty of the international community (including Australia) to monitor the human rights situation in West Papua and continue to raise concerns about the human rights situation with the Indonesian Government. The international community should also be encouraging the Indonesian Government to dialogue with representatives of the West Papuan people to try and solve the many issues of concern in the territory".

Joe Collins
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Mob. + 61. 2. 04077 857 97

See also:

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