Sarah Stephen
Soon after the federal government's decision to grant 42 West Papuan asylum seekers temporary protection visas, an April 2 national day of action in solidarity with West Papua welcomed the decision while urging the government not to ignore the human rights situation in West Papua.
One-hundred-and-fifty protesters participated in a West Papuan flag-raising ceremony in Sydney, and heard from Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, Sister Susan Connelly from the Mary MacKillop Institute and John Collins, an Australian soldier who was stationed in Merauke during WWII. West Papuans holding a "Free West Papua" banner led a march through the city.
Nick Chesterfield from the Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) reports that 200 people turned out for the Melbourne protest. Speakers included: Sixta Mambor, a student from West Papua; Greens Senator Bob Brown, who called for a referendum to enable self-determination in West Papua; Anglican priest Peter Woods, who witnessed the March 16 shootings in the West Papuan town of Abepura, and Asia-Pacific solidarity activist Vannessa Hearman.
The Brisbane rally of 80, organised by the Refugee Action Collective, was addressed by representatives of AWPA, the Greens, the Democrats and Labor for Refugees. From Perth, Anthony Benbow reports that the rally of 150 was opened by songwriter and activist Kelly Newton-Wordsworth who performed "Song for West Papua", which she wrote shortly after the asylum seekers arrived on January 18. Peter Stewart from the Christian Centre for Social Action and Phil Chilton from the Refugee Rights Action Network also spoke.
On the same day, a West Papuan family of six was rumoured to have left Merauke in a boat headed for Australia. PM John Howard expressed relief when they were eventually located in PNG, saying it was a "good thing". On April 6, he told the media: "I would say to people in West Papua and ... to any people in Australia ... who may be encouraging them to come to Australia, that that is not something the Australian government, or I believe the majority of the Australian public, wants."
However, as Nettle noted in an April 5 media release: "The Australian government must explain the contradiction of recognising the repression West Papuans face [by granting the 42 visas] and yet continuing to support the people that inflict this repression — Indonesian authorities."
From Green Left Weekly, April 12, 2006.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.