Solidarity with West Papua

Join us on Thursday, 29 November 2012 at 1pm, Parliament grounds, Wellington
to fly the Morning Star flag in solidarity with the people of West Papua

West Papua has been occupied by the Indonesian military since it was handed over, against the will of the indigenous population, to Indonesia in 1963. For the past forty-nine years, the people of West Papua have been subjected to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, cultural genocide, murder and massacre - more than 100,000 West Papuans have been killed. Many live in exile because it is not safe for them to go home.

Multi-national corporations in cahoots with the Indonesian authorities have exploited West Papua's natural resources to an extraordinary degree. This has caused massive social dislocation, devastation of rain forests, pollution of streams and rivers on which the local people depend for their survival, and serious human rights violations in areas where multinationals operate.

1 December is West Papua Independence Day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Dutch colonial rule. In Papua, people mark Independence Day in a variety of ways, including raising the Morning Star (the West Papuan flag) - despite the threat of arrest and murder.

This year we are marking West Papua Independence Day in Wellington at parliament at 1pm on 29 November, the closest sitting day of parliament to 1 December. During the solidarity gathering there will be an opportunity to write a personal message in support of justice, peace and self-determination for West Papua.

RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/events/488893514465537 and share the link on your page, the A4 poster is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp291112.pdf and the mini-flyer (print, then cut four per sheet) is at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp291112-m.pdf For more information, please contact Peace Movement Aotearoa email pma@xtra.co.nz

© Scoop Media

Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>