Greens call on Downer - action on arrested Papuan

Greens call on Downer for action on Papuan

Greens Leader Bob Brown has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, to get Jakarta's assurance about the safety and wellbeing of West Papuan human rights worker Jonah Wenda, who was arrested yesterday.

Mr Wenda made a mobile phone plea to alert friends but his phone has now gone quiet. It is thought that he was arrested by Indonesian police near the Papua New Guinea border and taken to West Papuan capital, Jayapura.

Friends say he 'is sick and needs urgent medical attention'.

Senator Brown said the Mr Wenda is in real danger, in view of the record of death and torture of West Papuan activists previously taken into custody.

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