11 October 2013

Peace dialogue not police for Indonesia

If New Zealand is serious about playing a positive role in Indonesia it should be facilitating a peace dialogue not providing police programmes, the Green Party said today.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has today announced New Zealand is providing $6.34 million for a three-year community policing programme in Indonesia.

“Although community policing is a very genuine concept it cannot help communities under virtual siege by the Indonesian police and military," said Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty.

“Pilot community police projects in Papua and West Papua in 2009 and 2010 didn’t change the reality of what is happening because of the context of consistent and sanctioned police violence that exists.

“The Government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs should reconsider how they deal with Indonesia, and stop providing military and police training to Indonesian forces while human rights abuses are occurring.

“New Zealand should be facilitating a peace dialogue between West Papua leaders and the Indonesian Government,” said Ms Delahunty.

ENDS

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