Feb 23, 2017

West Papua: Man Fleeing Persecution Deported by Australian Authorities


Photo Courtesy of the Port Lincoln Times

A West Papuan English teacher, who has requested for his identity to remain secret, is in limbo in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, waiting for his refugee status to be confirmed. The man had fled persecution to an Australian island after having helped a group of Papua New Guineans detained by the Indonesian police in the West Papuan regency of Merauke. He reiterates that he and his friends and family would be in grave danger if he was to be returned to West Papua. In 2006 already, Indonesian authorities had withdrawn their ambassador to Australia after the country had refused to extradite West Papuan asylum seekers.

 

Below is an article published by Radio New Zealand:

A West Papuan English teacher, who escaped persecution to an Australian island in the Torres Strait, claims he was deported to Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby.

The man, who wants to keep his identity a secret, said he fled the West Papuan regency of Merauke, where he was trying to help a group of Papua New Guineans detained by Indonesian police.

In 2006, Indonesia withdrew its ambassador from Australia after it refused to extradite a group of West Papuan asylum seekers.

The man said Australian authorities agreed to deport him to PNG.

"I said to them I don't want to go back. Not only is my life in danger, but my friends, my family. Everyone close to me is in danger. If they found out me everyone will be in danger," he said.

The man said he was currently in a refugee camp in Port Moresby where he was waiting for PNG authorities to determine his refugee status.