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| Papuan Photo: uwip.org |
The Socialist Alliance released the statement below on September 10.
The Socialist Alliance condemns the Australian government’s ongoing
support for Indonesian security forces, particularly the Detachment 88
“counter-terrorism” unit implicated in human rights abuses in the
occupied nation West Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia.
Detachment 88 has operated in West Papua for several years and has
been implicated in killings, harassment and torture of Papuans as part
of Indonesia’s efforts to repress the movement for independence.
The latest crackdown by security forces — which included the alleged
involvement of Detachment 88 in the killing of West Papua National
Committee (KNPB) leader Mako Tabuni — has finally gained much-deserved
attention from the mainstream media and put pressure on the Australian
government over its complicity in the repression.
Detachment 88 was formed after an agreement between Indonesia and
the Australian government following the terrorist bombing in Bali in
2002. Australia has given tens of millions of dollars to pay for the
unit’s equipment, training and facilities. The Australian Federal
Police have also held special training seminars for the unit’s members.
The Australian government also has long-term links to the Kopassus
special forces unit, notorious for its long history of human rights
abuses throughout Indonesia, East Timor and West Papua.
As new KNPB leader Victor Yeimo told ABC TV's 7.30:
“You [Australia] give money for Indonesia to kill people in West Papua.
You are the perpetrators ... you are the actors of violence in West
Papua.
“Australian government — also American government — they are actors
of violence in West Papua because they fund them, they train them, and
then with the gun they kill people. They kill us like animal.”
Australia has also provided political cover for successive
Indonesian governments to maintain a regime of brutality in West Papua.
Foreign minister Bob Carr’s comments on 7.30 on August 28
were typical of this — defending Indonesian officials as being
“responsive” when Australian diplomats raised human rights concerns,
despite human rights abuses continuing.
Western countries have long been complicit in Indonesia’s brutal
treatment of West Papua. The harsh regime has helped facilitate the
exploitation of the area’s riches in natural resources by Western and
Indonesian companies. Papuans see little benefit from the pillaging of
their land, and have the lowest standard of living in Indonesia.
The Socialist Alliance recognises West Papua’s status as an
illegally colonised nation. It supports the independence movement’s
campaign for freedom from oppression, including its calls for an
internationally supervised referendum on independence.
The Socialist Alliance calls on the Australian government to cut all
ties with the Indonesian security forces. It must pressure Indonesia to
bring to justice those responsible for human rights abuses, including
any responsible commanders and politicians.
Australia should pay reparations to the West Papuan people for any abuses committed by forces funded and trained by Australia.
The Socialist Alliance also calls on the Australian government to
end its political support for Indonesia’s crimes and to recognise the
right of the West Papuan people to exercise self-determination.
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