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AWPA condemns book bans in Indonesia
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Media release - January 12, 2010
The Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) condemns the banning of books by the Indonesian Attorney General's Office (AGO).
The books banned cover a variety of issues including that of West Papua. The reason given for the banning is that they could fuel movements toward the nation's disintegration and encourage separatism. The Tempo Interactive of the 6 January reported that the Head of Research and Development of the Justice and Human Rights Department, Hafid Abbas said "We do not want to see Indonesia separated," and "that separatists know the hardship of armed resistance so they chose to do their campaign through publications".
Joe Collins of AWPA said, "is Indonesia's democracy so fragile that it cannot allow the raising of the West Papuan Flag and books on the issue of West Papua? The banning of freedom of expression is contrary to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Instead of banning books on West Papua the Indonesian government should be allowing the West Papuan people to discuss human rights and self determination in their country.
AWPA calls on The Indonesian Constitutional Court to revoke the authority of the Attorney General's Office (AGO) to ban books in the country.
For more information contact Joe Collins on Mob. 04077 857 97
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