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Australia must not respond to Jakarta's request
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Media Release - October 31, 2016
Joe Collins of AWPA said, "this is an outrageous statement as it is duty of all nations to raise concern about human rights abuses not only in West Papua but no matter where they are committed. The Solomon Islands and the other six Pacific leaders who raised concern about the human rights abuses in West Papua (at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September) are to be congratulated for their courageous stand on the issue of West Papua. It is a pity that Australia does not follow the Pacific leaders in also condemning the ongoing human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian Military".
West Papuan leader Benny Wenda in a statement said that on 27th October, at least 9 West Papuan people were shot and 1 was killed as the Indonesian police opened fire in Manokwari.
According to reports, West Papuan people took to the streets to protest the murder of a West Papuan youth Vigal Pauspaus (20) who was stabbed by an Indonesian migrant. In response, the Indonesian police opened fire on the crowd and killed West Papuan Independence activist Onesimus Rumayom (56). They also reportedly attacked and shot at least 8 other people including children.
Joe Collins said, "it should also be remembered that Indonesia's Defense Minister Ryacudu said of the soldiers who killed Chief Theys Eluay (Chairperson of the Papuan Presidium Council) in November 2001, that 'I don't know, people say they did wrong, they broke the law. What law? Okay, we are a state based on the rule of law, so they have been punished. But for me, they are heroes because the person they killed was a rebel leader.'
Not only should Australia
refuse the request of the Indonesian defence minister but should be supporting
the Pacific leaders in calling on Jakarta to allow a PIF facing mission
to West Papua.
ends.
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