Media release-West Papua -A people betrayed

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, Sydney, Australia 2088

Media release 30 April 2013

West Papua -A people betrayed

The transfer of the Dutch colony of Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia 50 years ago by the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) was a failure by the International community in its responsibility to give the people of West Papua a say in their future. During the short UNTEA period there were already indications of oppression by Indonesia. 

Joe Collins of AWPA said "on the 1 December in 1962 a march  by West Papuan nationalists was banned by UNTEA because of Indonesian  coercion and still 

50 years later the Indonesian security forces are banning  rallies to commemorate this tragic event in West Papuan history".

However, a number of civil society organisations including the West Papua National Committee  (KNPB) still plan to hold peaceful rallies to protest the handover by UNTEA 

Tension in West Papua

Leading up to the 1 May the security forces said that 1000 security personal will be on duty to monitor events including undertaking security patrols. In the Paniai Region where the security forces are building police posts the TPN/OPM have  said they would hold a flag raising ceremony. Local community groups in the region have said they want members of Detachment 88 and Brimob withdrawn from Paniai because off abuses by the security forces.

Because a police officer was fatally stabbed in a home invasion in Yapen Serui Island, last  Saturday, a combined security force of  military and Police have conducted a sweep through local villages  in the district of  Angkaisera, Serui, in the Yapen Islands regency causing fear in the local people.  

Joe Collins  said, "we keep hearing how Indonesian is now a democracy. What better way by the Indonesian Government of proving this than to immediately release all West Papuan political prisoners unconditionally as a sign of good faith to the West Papuan people".

Ends