Australia West Papua Association Sydney
AWPA Statement -6 February 2026
AWPA calls on PM Albanese to raise Human Rights with Prabowo
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting Jakarta from 5 to 7 February to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and to sign the Australia–Indonesia Treaty on Common Security. He will be joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong.
Joe Collins from AWPA said, “although the treaty is basically symbolic with vague reference to the fact that the two countries will agree to consider a joint military response if either comes under attack, the main discussion will no doubt be about economic and trade ties and security in the region”. “What we can also be sure about is the there will be little discussion about the ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua”.
There will be no discussion on the internally displaced people in West Papua.
In its IDP Update (7 January 2026) Human Rights Monitor stated that there are more than 105,878 civilians across multiple regencies remained internally displaced due to military operations.
extract
"Between November and December 2025, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the ongoing expansion of military infrastructure in the central highlands. As of 1 January 2026, more than 105,878 civilians across multiple regencies remained internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict (see table below). The vast majority of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are indigenous peoples, as security force operations exclusively target areas that indigenous Papuans mainly inhabit. Incidents triggering new internal displacements reportedly occurred in the regencies Mimika, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Intan Jaya, and Yahukimo?.
No discussion about the increasing militarisation in West Papua, resulting in more human rights abuses, intimidation of human rights defenders and local journalists and increasing clashes between the TPNPB and the security forces.
There are no shortage of reports on the deterioration situation in West Papua
Church leaders in Indonesia’s Christian-majority Papua have criticized the ‘excessive military’ presence in the region, calling it a flawed state policy to counter insurgency in the conflict-scarred easternmost territory. Augustinian Bishop Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika said that the military presence has instilled fear and insecurity in the local community, whose life and activities are disrupted at regular intervals.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/bishop-slams-excessive-military-presence-in-indonesias-papua/111638
Joe Collins said, "like the genocide in Gaza, West Papua seems to be another deliberate blind spot in Australia’s foreign policy".
PM Albanese can state in his media release that
"Australia’s bond with Indonesia is unique and enduring, as neighbours, partners and friends who are committed to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
And FM Penny Wong
“Australia and Indonesia have together taken the most important step in strengthening our partnership in thirty years – bringing our cooperation to a higher level, acting together to secure peace and stability for our nations and the region”.
But,
They are ignoring the reality on the ground in West Papua.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, "for all intents and purposes West Papua is a colony of Jakarta. Yes, the international community recognises Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua, and West Papua is not on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, but it should be".
62 years ago, the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) transferred West Papua to Indonesian administration, who then removed it from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
And yes, Indonesia did hold a referendum in 1969, the so-called "Act of Free Choice", which was a sham and is referred to by West Papuans as the act of no free choice.
PM Albanese and Penny Wong must know about the ongoing human rights abuses in the territory. The situation in the territory is seriously deteriorating with regular armed clashes between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and the Indonesian security forces. West Papuans continue to be arrested at peaceful demonstrations and Papuans risk being charged with treason for taking part in the rallies.
The West Papuans are not going to give up their fight for self-determination.
If the Australian Government is really concerned about security and stability in the region,
PM Albanese should be raising the issue of West Papua, with the Indonesian president. Discuss how to improve the human rights situation in the territory,
Urge him to demilitarise the territory,
to halt all security force operations
and halt the massive palm oil plantations planned for the Merauke region, which the West Papuans are calling for.
Ends
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