The national network West Papua Action Aotearoa is
calling on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime
Minister to raise the issue of the deteriorating human
rights situation in West Papua at the Pacific Island Forum
starting September 8 in Honiara.
“ More than 100,000
people have been displaced from villages in the Highlands as
the Indonesian military expand their operations. Civilian
deaths, hunger, and health issues have reached a crisis
point with Indonesia’s own human rights agency Komnas Ham
asking the Government to declare a “ social disaster”.
Our government must raise this with other Pacific
leaders,” said Catherine Delahunty network
spokesperson.
“ We are also calling upon our leaders
to specifically raise the issue of the political prisoners
known as the “Sorong Four” facing charges with treason
for calling on officials to join a peace dialogue, have been
transferred out of Sorong to Makassar. Makasser is on the
island of Sulawesi far from West Papua. A peaceful
demonstration to protest their transfer led to 24 arrests in
Sorong last week and although some have been released, these
arrests show the repressive actions of the police when any
issue of human rights is raised.
“Transferring
political prisoners outside their region and in fact their
country, as well as charging them with treason for
advocating for a peace dialogue,is an unacceptable breach of
their rights. They are entitled to trial in Sorong which is
why the community held a peaceful protest”.
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These
examples show that the military occupation, displacement of
village communities and the extreme repression of civilians
working for peace must be challenged by neighbouring
nations. The West Papuan people are relying on countries
like New Zealand to speak out and show leadership. It’s
past time that our government acknowledged the multiple
crises in West Papua caused in part by the silence of
Indonesia’s political allies.
We are sending letters
today to Mr Luxon and to Mr Peters calling on them to use
their power at the Pacific Island Forum and speak up for the
powerless in this region.
Catherine
Delahunty
West Papua Action
Aotearoa
