Aug 13, 2007

West Papua: Australia Urged to Act


The Chairman of the Papuan People’s Assembly has urged Australian Prime Minister Howard to address the human rights situation in West Papua when he meets with the Indonesian President.

The Chairman of the Papuan People’s Assembly has urged Australian Prime Minister Howard to address the human rights situation in West Papua when he meets with the Indonesian President.

Below are extracts of an article based on an interview published by Radio Australia:

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard is being asked to speak up for the human rights of Papua when he meets Indonesia's President in Sydney next month [September 2007]. The Chairman of the Papuan People's Assembly wants the issue raised when Australia hosts 20 national leaders during the APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] summit in September [2007]. Chairman Agus Alua claims Papua's special autonomy is being deliberately undermined by Indonesia's military.

Presenter - Karon Snowdon  Speaker - Agus Alua. Chairman of the Papuan People's Assembly

SNOWDON: Although West Papua was granted special autonomy 6 years ago, and has its own people's assembly, the Assembly's Chairman , Agus Alua says the central government in Jakarta has failed to fully implement its own policy. Economically Papua has seen little benefit from being part of south east asia's biggest economy. And worse the Indonesian military he says has its own agenda aimed at creating chaos.

ALUA: During special autonomy the protection of West Papua is not working, a lot of military intervention there, therefore we need Australian Prime Minister to talk with SBY.

SNOWDON: The charges Agus Alua makes against Indonesia's national military, the TNI are serious ones. They include the formation of pro-integration anti-autonomy groups and a new style of OPM - the outlawed Papuan Freedom Movement which under the direction of the military attacks villages and is used to justify military crackdowns. He also accuses the TNI of backing illegal businesses including prostitution and illegal logging, of restricting freedom of movement and of heavy handed surveillance.

ALUA: Before special autonomy we have 3 battalions but now during special autonomy law it became six.

SNOWDON: And are they not respecting the special autonomy law?

ALUA: Yes that's the real situation today now.

SNOWDON: We've been hearing increasing reports of the Indonesian military abuse of human rights. Do you have direct evidence that you can tell us about of this problem?


ALUA: Now it's the OPM it doesn't work anymore in the jungle ...

SNOWDON: The OPM?

ALUA: Not now military created new OPM leaders there and they work closely with them.

SNOWDON: You mean some sort of militia supported by the Indonesian military?

ALUA: Yeah it's a kind of militia.

SNOWDON: So that they have an excuse to increase military operations is that what you're saying?

ALUA: Yes.

SNOWDON: And what's happening to the people?

ALUA: Papuan people they cannot move freely to look for fish or hunting because a lot of military control.

[…]

SNOWDON: Indonesia allows almost no media or independent travel to Papua. Agus Alua has travelled extensively to inform the world and to gather support for a better deal for Papuans. He says proper autonomy would be a great benefit to both sides. He wants John Howard to pressure Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when they meet at the APEC summit in Sydney. Last year when Australia granted 42 Papuans political asylum it seriously strained Australian Indonesian relations. An angry President Yudohyono recalled his Ambassador who stayed away for months. Agus Alua says the asylum seeker case illustrate his point.

ALUA: The Papuan refugees who come here to Australia it's part of the military control and especially the special autonomy law. ... in Papua no space more for political democratic process, no space for aspiration, everything is not ... , we need Australian support, especially for changing Papuan right of life in their homeland, because you know that in Indonesia we talk and talk and never heard.