Concern West Papuans were forced to leave consulate

6 October 2013

Concern West Papuans were forced to leave consulate

AWPA has faxed the below letter to the Australian Consulate in Bali seeking clarification if the 3 West Papuan students left voluntarily or if were told that they would be handed over to the Indonesian military if they did not leave.

Joe Collins of AWPA said "its of great concern that they may have being coerced to leave as the students would have great reason to fear the Indonesian security forces. There are ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua and the security forces having being banning and cracking down on recent rallies to try and stop international attention being focused on the territory.

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Mr Brett Farmer
Consul-General in Bali
Jalan Tantular, No. 32
Renon, Denpasar
Bali

6 October 2013

Dear Mr Farmer,
The Australia West Papua Association in Sydney is writing to you concerning the three West Papuans students, Markus Jerewon, Yuvensius Goo and Rofinus Yanggam who entered the consulate seeking refuge earlier this morning.

We understand that they have now left the consulate and we would like clarification from you if the left voluntarily or as some media reports have indicated that they were told that they would be handed over to the Indonesian military if they did not leave. This is of great concern due to the ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua. The students would have great reason to fear the Indonesian security forces.

This episode is reminiscent of how seven West Papuans, including a pregnant woman and a child arrived on Boigu Island in the Torres Straits on the 24 September. They were transferred to Horn Island and after interviews were promised they would be flown to the Australian mainland but they were tricked and flown to PNG.

Awaiting your reply
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
AWPA (Sydney)

CC. Australian Embassy Jakarta

ENDS

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