AWPA is calling on Julia Gillard to raise the
security crackdown on peaceful activists in West Papua with the
Indonesian President at the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF).
Prime Minister Gillard is one of the co-chairs
at the BDF and she should use the opportunity to press Indonesia into
addressing concerns of the ongoing violence in West Papua.
AWPA is also encouraged that the PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said
he would be bringing the issue of West Papua to the attention of the
Indonesian President at the BDF and we encourage PM Gillard to support
the PNG Prime Minister in raising the human rights issue in the
territory.
Prime Minister Gillard has
praised Dr Yudhoyono's efforts in promoting democracy, saying his
country's "remarkable democratic transition" should be a lesson for
others around the world".
However, Joe Collins of AWPA said " there are credible
reports of excessive use of force by the Indonesian security forces in
West Papua, particularly in the last month with a security crackdown on
peaceful activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB). It
would appear that the Indonesian Government is allowing the security
forces to operate with impunity in West Papua".
Joe Collins of AWPA said
“given Australia's close relationship with Indonesia, the fact that it is providing training to the Indonesian security forces , the Prime Minister should raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian President as a priority”.
We also note that the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay will attend the BDF and hope she will also raise
concerns about the human rights situation with the Indonesian President.
Ends
