The national network West Papua Action Aotearoa is calling on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister to raise the issue of the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua at the Pacific Island Forum starting September 8 in Honiara.

“ More than 100,000 people have been displaced from villages in the Highlands as the Indonesian military expand their operations. Civilian deaths, hunger, and health issues have reached a crisis point with Indonesia’s own human rights agency Komnas Ham asking the Government to declare a “ social disaster”. Our government must raise this with other Pacific leaders,” said Catherine Delahunty network spokesperson.

“ We are also calling upon our leaders to specifically raise the issue of the political prisoners known as the “Sorong Four” facing charges with treason for calling on officials to join a peace dialogue, have been transferred out of Sorong to Makassar. Makasser is on the island of Sulawesi far from West Papua. A peaceful demonstration to protest their transfer led to 24 arrests in Sorong last week and although some have been released, these arrests show the repressive actions of the police when any issue of human rights is raised.

“Transferring political prisoners outside their region and in fact their country, as well as charging them with treason for advocating for a peace dialogue,is an unacceptable breach of their rights. They are entitled to trial in Sorong which is why the community held a peaceful protest”.

These examples show that the military occupation, displacement of village communities and the extreme repression of civilians working for peace must be challenged by neighbouring nations. The West Papuan people are relying on countries like New Zealand to speak out and show leadership. It’s past time that our government acknowledged the multiple crises in West Papua caused in part by the silence of Indonesia’s political allies.

We are sending letters today to Mr Luxon and to Mr Peters calling on them to use their power at the Pacific Island Forum and speak up for the powerless in this region.

Catherine Delahunty
West Papua Action Aotearoa

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