22 November 2008
Green MP calls for NZ investigation into West Papua claims
19 August 2006
By Laura Bond: Te Waha Nui Online
Failure by the New Zealand government to accept West Papua as an independent nation is aiding genocide, according to Green MP Keith Locke.
At a West Papuan conference at AUT University over the weekend, Locke addressed a group of about 60 New Zealanders, Indonesian minority groups and West Papuan nationals.
He wants the New Zealand government to put more resources into investigating the claims of genocide and oppression against the West Papuan people by the Indonesian government.
“The New Zealand government needs to stand up to Indonesia and learn lessons from East Timor,” he says.
Locke believes our relations with West Papua are better than that of Australia.
In dealing with West Papuan issues, he says: “New Zealand tends to be a bit more constructive but still within the realm that West Papua is part of Indonesia.
“The government needs to go on fact-finding missions to West Papua.”
Asylum seekers
He also believes New Zealand could help on a more practical level by giving asylum seekers residency.
“We should be sharing the responsibility with Australia for the asylum seekers,” he says.
In April 2005, Green MPs Rod Donald and Nandor Tanczos met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and presented him with a West Papuan flag – the “Morning Star” - to show their support for West Papua.
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Photo: Del Abcede
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Matt Robson, member of the Progressive Party and a former MP, who also attended the conference, says it is important that the public knows more about the plight of West Papua.
“I don’t think there will be any difference in the ground swell of support for the West Papuan people than there was for East Timor once the information is out.
“We do suffer human rights issues in all countries but West Papua more heavily than anywhere else.”
Attending the conference was Rev Socrates Sofyan Yoman, president of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of West Papua.
He thanked the politicians for attending but said more could be done.
“On paper this is very good, but in action not good. We want open dialogue.”
Links:
- Genocide in West Papua?
- Low population in Papua an indication of genocide, according to a church leader
- Papuan religious leader spooked by Indonesian security officers
- West Papua conference programme
- BBC’s Rachel Harvey reports on Indonesian human rights abuses
- West Papua seminar news website
- West Papua website
