Elections Held, but No Real Choice for Papuans

AUSTRALIA WEST PAPUA ASSOCIATION (VIC)
Thursday 9 April 2009 For immediate release

The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) Victoria is calling on the
Australian Government to make an urgent diplomatic representation to
its Indonesian counterpart over escalating violence in the lead up to
the general elections taking place today.

Members of Melbourne’s West Papuan community and supporters will hand
out flyers and speak with members of the public at Flinders Street
Station this afternoon before travelling to the Indonesian Consulate
for a vigil in support of their friends and family back home. They
will mark the occasion with traditional songs and by raising the
Morning Star Flag as a reminder of the importance of free speech.

Recent large and peaceful rallies in West Papuan townships have been
responded to with extreme force and violence by Indonesian security
forces.

Known victims shot at a peaceful rally a few days ago in Nabire
include a 10 year old boy on his way home from school and at least
eight others. The security forces fired their weapons repeatedly and
took a very aggressive approach to anyone in or near the area where
the rally took place.

The Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights has brought many of
these events to light and has photos and video footage of the events
in Nabire. They can be contacted via Matthew Jamieson on 0418 291 998.

AWPA spokesperson Rickard Rumbiak said that the Australian Government
must play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly
around the protection of human rights by Australia’s key trading
partners and neighbours.

“No government should turn a blind eye to human rights violations
because of politics. This is the road to disaster.

“The Indonesian General Election presents a hypocritical backdrop to
the repression in West Papua. We are given the illusion of choice but
no real power. This is why there is a widespread call to boycott the
elections.

“Let us vote on demilitarising West Papua. Let us vote for free
speech. Let us vote for human rights protections and equality before
the law. Let us vote for economic opportunities, the protection of our
ancient forests and freedom to express our traditional culture. We are
prisoners living under occupation in our own land with no real power
to decide anything.”

More information: awpa.melbourne@gmail.com