Media release. Abbott should raise West Papua with President Yudhyono

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Media release 2 June 2014

Abbott should raise West Papua with President Yudhyono

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is to attend the D-day anniversary celebrations in France and will stop in Indonesia briefly to meet with President Yudhyono to try and smooth relations with Jakarta over the spying scandal and Australia's stop the boats policy.

Joe Collins of AWPA said "we urge Tony Abbott to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government and encourage the Indonesian President to release all West Papuan political prisoners unconditionally. It is outrageous that there are 72 West Papuans in jail, many simply because they  raised the West Papuan flag at peaceful demonstrations".

Joe Collins said, "the worst thing the Australian Government can do is to continue to ignore the situation in West Papua. There is only one issue that can cause major friction between the two countries and it’s not the spying scandal but the issue of West Papua.   The West Papuan people have been calling for dialogue with Jakarta and Australia should be encouraging the Indonesian president to start the process.

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