1) AWPA has written to Sen Bob Carr concerning the killing and arrest of members of the KNPB

1) AWPA has written to Sen Bob Carr concerning the killing and arrest of members of the KNPB

2) Step up on West Papua: Greens

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1) AWPA has written to Sen Bob Carr concerning the killing and arrest of members of the KNPB. Letter below.

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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, Sydney, Australia 2088

Senator the Hon Bob Carr

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Parliament House, Canberra

ACT 2600

18 December 2012

Dear Senator Carr,

I am writing to you concerning the continuing crackdown on members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) by the Indonesian security forces. 

Two members of the KNPB have been killed by the security forces in Wamena at the weekend. Hubertus Mabel and Natalis Alua were shot outside a house 

in the village of Kurulu on Sunday and later died. Police have also arrested five other members of the KNPB.

The police claim they were arresting Hubertus Mabel because he was a suspect in the recent bombing of the Jayawijaya district legislative assembly office 

and police station in Wamena. Police claim Hubertus was resisting arrest and they shot him when he tried to escape. He died from loss of blood in hospital.

There have been reports that the Australian trained Detachment 88 was involved in the security operation in which the KNPB members were killed and the five detained.

We are concerned that the situation could deteriorate further as the security forces seem to be sweeping the area looking for members of the KNPB. The

local population set fire to a small empty  police station in Wamena in protest at the killings.

AWPA is concerned for the safety of those arrested as many reports have pointed out that the security forces use torture to intimidate or extract information from prisoners in West Papua.

In light of the dangerously deteriorating situation we urge you to use your good offices with the Indonesian Government to

call for the halt to any military operations in West Papua as a way of  avoiding further escalation of the situation and avoiding further bloodshed.We also urge the Government 

to hold an inquiry to see if any Australian trained members of Detachment 88 have been involved in security operations in West Papua. 

We urge you to contact the Indonesian President asking that he guarantee the safety of those KNPB members detained and urging him to immediately release all those arrested unconditionally

Yours sincerely

Joe Collins

AWPA (Sydney) 

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Media Release

18/12/12

2) Step up on West Papua: Greens

The Australian Greens today called for Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr, to explain what Australia is doing to help put an end to violence and human rights abuses in West Papua.

“The Australian Greens were saddened to learn that two more West Papuan activists were killed on Sunday by Indonesian police,” said Greens spokesperson on West Papua, Senator Richard Di Natale.

Hubertus Mabel and Natalis Alua are not the only members of the West Papua National Committee to be killed. It has been reported that in this year alone 22 members have been killed, three are missing, 200 have been arrested and seven charged with serious offences.

“Australia should not ignore the ongoing violence and human rights abuses on our doorstep. Australia should be a vocal advocate for human rights in our region, yet our Foreign Minister barely acknowledges the issue.

“When pushed by ABC’s 7:30 Report earlier this year, the Foreign Minister agreed that there needed to be an inquiry into the killing of a Papuan activist leader, Maku Tabuni. I was assured at Senate Estimates that DFAT were pursuing this matter with the Indonesian government but no one has been held responsible for the killing and Papuans continue to be murdered.

“Minister Carr should be calling on Indonesia to open up West Papua to foreign journalists and human rights monitors because the scrutiny of independent journalists and NGOs is crucial to improving human rights in the region.

“Australia pursued a seat on the UN Security Council because we want to influence global politics and diplomacy. But if the government wants the responsibility of being a player on the international stage then it simply cannot run away from tough discussions with our friends.”

Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600