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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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>>