West Papuan freedom fighter blocked from NZ Parliament

Monday, 11 February 2013, 5:40 pm
Press Release: Australia West Papua Association

8 February 2013

West Papuan freedom fighter blocked from NZ Parliament

The Australia West Papua Association is greatly concerned that a democratic country like New Zealand is not allowing West Papuan leader Benny Wenda to speak at its Parliament House.

Joe Collins of AWPA said this is the second time in just over a week that Indonesian has tried to block the issue of West Papua being raised. After showing the documentary "Goodbye Indonesia," about West Papua on Aljazeera TV, Aljazeera responded to pressure from the Indonesian Government by adding comments and responses by the Indonesian Government at the end of the film. And now we have the NZ Government also bowing to pressure from the Indonesian Government by not allowing Benny Wenda to speak at Parliament House. It looks like trade again trumps human rights.

ENDS

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