The Australia West Papua Association has written to the Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd calling on him to use his good offices with the Indonesian President asking that he call a halt to all military operations in West Papua and to return all military personal to their barrack as a way of easing tension and saving lives.
See letter below:
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600
19 July 2011
Dear Mr Rudd
I am writing to you concerning the Indonesian military operation that is occurring in the Puncak Jaya regency of West Papua. Media reports have indicated that up to 600 TNI personal are involved in “sweeping “ operations in the region. In the latest incident four civilians , one women and 3 children were wounded when Indonesian troops from the Infantry Battalion 753 , who are based in Nabire fired into huts in the villiage of Kalome while searching for members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). The incident occurred on the 12 July.
These aggressive military operations in pursuit of the OPM leave the local people traumatised and in fear for their lives. Many reports have pointed out the the security forces have great difficulty distinguishing between what the term separatists and the general public. During these military operations villages are destroyed as well as gardens and livestock. While the OPM are committed to peaceful dialogue, the retain the right to self defence and protecting the local people if attacked. Although the security forces try to blame all incidents in the area on the OPM, many attacks on the TNI are by unknown attackers .
Tensions are always high in the Puncak Jaya regency because of the regular military operations that occur in the area. Suspecion between the local people and the TNI remain high with the security forces accusing locals of supporting the OPM while the local people accuse the Indonesian military of human rights abuses.
In May the military began a “socialising programme “ in Puncak Jaya involving up to 300 Army, Air Force and Navy personnel . The programe is proposed to run for four months and is to include the renovating of homes, churches and markets. However, local people believe it is simply a shield and a cover-up of the violation of human rights abuses that have occurred in the region. It is all reminiscent of the US programme to win the “hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people.
The problems in West Papua won't be solved by Jakarta deploying more troops to the region or conducting more military operations. In September last year the House of Representatives (DPR) Law Commission deputy chairman Tjatur Sapto Edy commenting on a report by Komnas HAM on past military operations in the PUNCAK Jaya Rregion said “there should be no more military operations and such approaches are no longer suitable in a democracy”.
We urge you to use your good offices with the Indonesian Government to
call on the Indonesian President to halt all military operations in West Papua and return all military personal to their barrack as a way of easing tension and saving lives.
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
AWPA (Sydney)
CC. The Hon Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Defence
Various human rights organisations
Comments
Re: Australia West Papua Association calls on Australian ...
reply from DFAT to AWPA letter re Puncak Jaya
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Australian Government
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
25 July 2011
Dear Mr Collins
Thank you for your letter dated 19 July 2011 about troubles in the Papuan district of Puncak Jaya. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Rudd.
The Australian Government follows closely developments in the Papuan provinces, including the recent conflict in the highlands to which you refer. The report of civilian injuries following the most recent clashes between Indonesian troops and the OPM is indeed disturbing. Such violence -regardless of the protagonists-does nothing to improve the safety and prosperity of the Papuan people.
The Australian Government welcomes all efforts to build a better future for the Papuan people and to address peacefully their legitimate concerns. To that end, it is pleasing that the senior military commander responsible for the Papua provinces, Major General Erfi Triassunu, was this month preparing to engage in a dialogue with the OPM, mediated by the respected Komnas HAM , to address the Puncak Jaya violence. Peaceful talks there are the best way to resolve differences and stop the violence that has claimed the lives of four civilians , 11 military personal and an unknown number of OPM members since May.
The Australian Government has long supported Indonesia's territorial integrity , including its sovereignty over the Papua provinces. Under President Yudhoyono, Indonesia's human rights situation has improved markedly. Nevertheless, Australia has a strong track record of raising with the Indonesian Government our concerns about allegations of human rights abuses when they occur. We will continue to register with the Indonesian Government the importance of ensuring the rights of all Indonesians are respected.
Thank you for bringing your views to the attention of the Minister.
Re: Australia West Papua Association calls on Australian ...
There is a way for Australians to get their elected reps to act on their will!
Look up on the net for a book called "YOUR WILL BE DONE"
This book was banned by the Australian government of the day from being taught in schools?
The book explains in detail how to "LEGALLY" make a "Politician" do what they got voted in for!
Australian's have a legal obligation to keep their elected reps informed of their will. "Will letters" must be worded in a certain way and must be sent via registered post. Petitions are not really worth the paper they are written on and hold ANY LEGAL weight. Registered "will letters" DO!
Politicians MUST, by the Australian constitution, answer the Will letter!
If EVERYBODY! that WOULD sign a petition, sent a "Will letter" instead? then the Politician MUST by law ACT ON THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!
These days, Politicians rely on Howard's often used term of "I have a mandate" because NOBODY knows of the POWER of WILL LETTERS.
I have pushed for a free West Papua for over a year and have had many replies from Politicians! Sadly I am only one man but imagine if WE ALL sent one in? BY the Australian Constitution it would be ILLEGAL for them to ignore the will letters!
Hope this helps?