Letters To The Editor

West Papua

Your editorial (November edition) is quite correct when you state “Australia is helping to perpetuate Indonesia’s ruthless self-interested rule in West Papua”. To make matters worse because of the tragic circumstances surrounding the bombings at Bali it looks like the Australian Government will support a resumption of aid to the Indonesian military and, in particular, the Indonesian special forces unit, Kopassus.

Kopassus has a record of involvement in human rights abuses not only in the past in East Timor but at present in West Papua.

Kopassus and the Indonesian military coordinated the East Timorese anti-independence militias, which caused so much havoc and loss of life in East Timor.

Several of its officers are on trial for the assassination of the West Papuan independence leader, Theys Eluay, in November last year. It also appears they were involved in the deaths of two Americans and one Indonesian teacher at the giant Freeport copper and goldmine in Papua in August this year.

The Pacific governments have failed the West Papuan people in the past. Only recently has the West Papua issue appeared on the agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum meetings-thanks to a few courageous countries like Vanuatu.

The Forum countries have made Indonesia a post-Forum dialogue partner but can’t grant West Papua observer status at the meetings! The Forum meetings would be an excellent arena for the West Papuan leadership and Indonesia representatives to discuss peaceful ways forward for the province. The Forum countries should lead the way by supporting self-determination for West Papua and a good start would be for the Forum to send a fact finding mission to investigate the human rights situation in the province.

- Joe Collins
Secretary, Australia West Papua Association, Sydney
iris at matra.com.au