The West Papua Action Aotearoa network is calling on the New Zealand Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister to speak out against the recent shooting of civilians including children in West Papua by Indonesian police and military.

“In recent days between 4 to 6 people have been killed by security forces including a 12-year-old child, in the Dogiyai Regency in West Papua. These killings are alleged to be a retaliatory attack after a policeman was killed. Human Rights Monitor say that security forces indiscriminatorily opened fire in several villages due to the stabbing of a policeman. This kind of response is a punishment of communities and an attack on their human rights. Indonesian claims these killings are a response to action by “ armed criminal groups” , meaning the armed resistance to their occupation of West Papua, but the state opening fire on villages and killing children cannot be justified. “said Catherine Delahunty spokesperson for West Papua Action Aotearoa”.

“Indonesia is currently leading the UN Human Rights Council and claiming to be a “ bridge builder” while their own human rights record continues to be appalling in West Papua and this incident is just another example of state violence used with impunity against Papuans.

We call upon our Foreign Minister and Prime Minister to break their silence and tell Indonesia their actions are unacceptable. This country’s silence on Indonesian state violence is shameful, and we suggest that our Government follow the courageous leadership of the Opposition leader in Solomons Islands, Matthew Wale, who has called for Melanesian solidarity and the end to regional silence” Ms Delahunty said.

She said the NZ Government was happy to speak out selectively on human rights issues while ignoring the plight of our Pacific neighbours in West Papua experiencing sustained abuse.

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