By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Three politicians from Papua New Guinea (PNG) have joined an international campaign to support West Papuans that were allegedly persecuted by Indonesian authorities.
It is estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 West Papuans now live in PNG after they fled their homes on the Indonesian side of the border. These West Papuans were forced to flee because of the human rights abuses they suffered in Indonesia.
Hundreds of West Papuans settled in a refugee camp near the border in PNG’s Southern Highlands region.
The Indonesian government now plans to repatriate up to 700 West Papuans who live in PNG’s capital, Port Moresby, and towns along the shared border.
The Governor of Port Moresby, Powers Parkop, stated that PNG “has turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the issue.”
Jamie Maxton-Graham and Boka Kondra also criticize PNG’s inaction over the “plight of their fellow Melanesians” (the Melanesians are an ethnic minority in Indonesia’s Papua province).
Maxton-Graham stated that he will help launch and sign the PNG Charter of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.
These three politicians joined 50 others from other countries in signing the charter. The charter calls for the United Nations to “restore the right of the indigenous people of West Papua to self-determination.”
The other signatories of the charter include Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens MP Greg Barber, and MPs from the UK, Sweden, Czech Republic, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.
In response to seeing horrific photos of atrocities on West Papuans allegedly committed by the Indonesian police and military, Maxton-Graham stated: “The international community and our charter says Indonesia must stop this.”
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand – Three PNG MPs support self determination cause for West Papuans – 15 November 2009
Asian Pacific Solidarity Network – Papua New Guinea politicians join campaign to support persecuted West Papuans – 13 November 2009
Free West Papua – Global lobby for West Papua takes off in PNG – 13 November 2009
InfoPapua.org – Global lobby for West Papua takes off in PNG – 13 November 2009
