January 4, 2007
West Papua: Plea for New Zealand to Promote Peace Dialogue
The IHRC is calling on the New Zealand Government to offer to facilitate dialogue between West Papuan representatives and the Government of Indonesia.
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is calling on the New Zealand Government to offer to facilitate dialogue between West Papuan representatives and the Government of Indonesia.
New Zealand should also call on Indonesia to open up West Papua to the entry of human rights monitors and international media.
IHRC makes this urgent call in the context of rising tension and fears of violent conflict in the remote Highlands area of Puncak Jaya.
"When the West Papuan people demonstrate their desire for freedom and raise the banned Morning Star flag the Indonesian Government sends in more crack troops. West Papuan leaders are calling for dialogue but Indonesia fails to respond. New Zealand could be a catalyst for peaceful change, but there is little time for delay as the situation appears to be deteriorating rapidly."
The Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Acting Minister over the holiday period are available here.