The Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has recently written to Prime Minister Gillard asking her what her Government is doing to pressure the Indonesian Government to release political prisoners in West Papua and to stop violent military repression of peaceful political activists.
You can download a copy of the letter here or use the text below as a guide for your letter to the PM. You might like to us the comment box for this item to add your voice of concern and share your response to this campaign.
Contact Details for Prime Minister Gillard
An Appeal to the Prime Minister for Human Rights in West Papua
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
The Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Date: …………
Dear Ms Gillard
Last November, you welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese regime after a long period of detention. At the same time, you called for the Burmese leaders to release other political prisoners and to take other actions to promote democracy and peace. Your comments were appropriate and welcome.
I am writing to urge you to adopt the same strong position with Indonesian authorities in relation to those Papuan political activists who have been jailed for expressing their political views peacefully. Activists such as Filep Karma, should not be in jail for raising a flag or participating in a peaceful protest.
Your Government’s concerns about revelations of torture of a Papuan man by members of the Indonesian military are also very welcome. There is much reliable evidence to suggest that this is not an isolated incident. The brutal repression of Papuans is commonplace and long-running. This appalling state of affairs is compounded by the failure to provide adequate social and economic opportunities to most indigenous Papuans.
You would be aware that special autonomy for West Papua has not operated effectively and has failed to overcome these serious problems. You would also be aware that there is growing dissatisfaction among Papuans with this state of affairs.
Violent repression in West Papua must end. While I am not campaigning for West Papuan independence, I passionately advocate that the political, civil, social and economic rights of the people of West Papua must be respected and promoted by Australia. In line with your call for human rights and democracy in Burma, I urge you to also encourage the Indonesian Government to take swift and effective steps to end the abuse of military power in West Papua and to rectify the unsatisfactory political, economic and social situation in the province.
Please advise me what steps your Government is taking to secure the release of political prisoners in West Papua, to end the violent repression of Papuans and to bring about political arrangements which will ensure that they can exercise democratic freedom and live in dignity.
Yours sincerely
Signature: …………………………………………………
Name: ………………………………………………….
Address: ……………………………………………….
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane 