The Plight of West Papua
Reverend Fred Nile MLC raised the issue of West Papua in the NSW State
Parliament due to recent reports of violence and the destruction of Churches in
the country;
“I draw the attention of the House to genocide in West Papua, a very important
subject that affects the indigenous population of West Papua, formerly part of
the Dutch Colonial empire, and also formerly known as West Irian. On Wednesday I
had the opportunity to hear a briefing by Reverend Socrates Sofian Yoman,
President of the Baptist Church of West Papua. Reverend Herman Awaon, Chairman
of the Evangelical Church of West Papua had planned to visit Australia, but I
understand that Australian authorities rejected his visa. That raises a serious
question about free travel and free speech for Papuan church leaders: Was that
decision made by the Australian authorities to appease the Indonesian
Government?
Reverend Socrates gave an alarming report of increasing violence by the
Indonesian military which involves arrests, destruction of churches and
villages, unlawful detentions, et cetera. Reverend Socrates was also deeply
concerned about the aggressive Islamisation of the mainly Christian West Papua
by a large Muslim immigration program from Indonesia. Muslim immigration has
dramatically increased and is changing the racial and religious make-up of the
population of West Papua. Observers estimate 1,000 Indonesians, the majority of
whom are Muslims, arrive every week in West Papua. In 1970 the population of
West Papua was estimated to be 700,000. In 2000 it was calculated to be 2.2
million, of whom 1.5 million were Papuan. It is hard to obtain more recent
figures but with the 1,000 people every week it will dramatically increase the
non-indigenous population”, said Rev Fred Nile
“Reverend Socrates reported that Indonesian military has established regular
permanent military posts along all the roads. At some of those posts an Islamic
presence is developed by the construction of small mosques. I have seen
photographs of some of the mosques and they are as large as the ones in Auburn.
There is also great tension amongst the indigenous people about the operation of
the huge Free Port open goldmine and the pollution it generates. Another concern
is where the profits go. Apparently they go to Indonesia. The profits should be
used to develop and provide benefits for the population of West Papua.
In August 2005, a publication entitled "Genocide in West Papua" was released by
the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies [CPACS]. The report points to an
alarming situation in West Papua, which was highlighted by the recent arrival of
43 West Papuans seeking refugee asylum in Australia. Forty-two of them were
granted refugee status, which I understand from media reports greatly upset the
Indonesian authorities and led to the recall of the Indonesian Ambassador. The
authors of the report—Mr John Wing has a degree from the University of Sydney
and is a research fellow at the CPACS and Mr Peter King, a research associate at
the University of Sydney—made a number of important points. In the background
they referred to the Act of Free Choice and stated:
Under the terms of an agreement between the Dutch and Indonesian governments
signed in New York in 1962, Indonesia was obligated to hold a plebiscite on
Papua's future, an "Act of Free Choice", within six years of the transfer of
power to Jakarta in 1963. Undertakings were given by the US and Dutch
governments …
In fact, it became a controlled plebiscite of only approximately 1,000
hand-picked people who agreed that it should be part of the Indonesian nation.
So I express solidarity with the Papuan people. I urge all members to study this
issue and make it a matter of concern. I urge them to get a copy of this
document, which contains many photographs and reports on Indonesian abuses of
the people of West Papua”, Rev Nile stated.
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Rev Fred Nile MLC: 9230 2978 / 0418 619 731
Rev Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC: 9230 3340 / 4389 1860 / 0407 433 499
Christian Democratic Party, GPO Box 141, Sydney NSW 2001.
Phone: 1300-667-975 Email:admin@cdp.org.au
web:
www.cdp.org.au