Category Archives: Politics

Refugee Visa Cap Cruel and Unacceptable

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The decision by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison, to cap the issue of permanent protection visas for refugees to 1650 would increase the cruelty of the Government’s refugee policy according to the Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane, Peter Arndt.

Mr Arndt said that the measure, announced in the wake of the Senate vote to prevent the reintroduction of temporary protection visas, was unacceptable.

“People who we recognize as refugees because they faced persecution, torture and the threat of death would have been forced to live in a limbo of anxiety and uncertainty year after year if temporary protection visas were re-introduced,” Mr Arndt said.

“The Minister’s decision to cap permanent protection visas means that many people who have valid claims for protection will be subjected to the same uncertainty and anxiety by another means,” he said.

“Australia is in a position to be much more generous in resettling vulnerable people who deserve to live free from fear and violence,” he said.

“This is a mean-spirited and cruel stance from a country which is infinitely better off than the countries from which asylum seekers are fleeing,” he said.

“It is simply not fair to have thousands of people who have suffered so much in their homeland face years of further suffering here in Australia,” he said.

Mr Arndt called on Catholics to challenge the Federal Government’s cruel measures.

“Let us be signs of God’s lavish generosity and abundant mercy,” he said.

“Let’s demand just policies from a country which is so wealthy compared to the countries from which asylum seekers are fleeing,” he said.

“Let’s respond to Christ’s call for us to welcome the stranger,” he said.

“Let’s not pretend that we are doing the right thing by sending vulnerable people home to torture and harassment because there are other vulnerable people suffering in refugee camps elsewhere,” he said.

“Australia and the other wealthy nations of the world have a responsibility, in justice, to do much, much more for asylum seekers around the world, whether they are sitting in refugee camps for years or they risk dangerous journeys in boats to escape truly horrifying circumstances,” he said.

For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Mandate which enables it to speak in its own right. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Sri Lanka Visit

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The Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of Brisbane recently visited Sri Lanka as part of the 9th Justice and Peace Workers Network Gathering for Asia and the Pacific. What he encountered challenges efforts by the Australian Government to portray a rosy picture of the situation in post-war Sri Lanka. He urges Australia not to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in Sri Lanka as part of its obsession with stopping the boats.

Do Not Turn a Blind Eye In Sri Lanka

Press Statement – 9th JPW Meeting

West Papua Solidarity December 1 2012

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(From : Selpius Bobii ( A political prisoner of conscience), General Chairperson –

THE UNITED FRONT OF THE STRUGGLE OF THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA

(FRONT PERSATUAN PERJUANGAN RAKYAT PAPUA BARAT (FRONT PEPERA PB))

Secretariat Office Address : 01 Victoria St – Padang Bulan, Abepura– West Papua

E-mail : frontpepera_papuabarat@hushmail.com

“ One History Together – The Morning Star ”

 ( 1 December 1961 – 1 December 2012 )

THANKS TO GOD

To the community of the Papuan Nation and the International community in solidarity wherever you may be. Firstly it is proper that we give thanks and praise to God the Almighty as it is through God’s help, guidance and Grace that we are able to serve on the face of this earth.

Allow us this day that is a historical date for the people of Papua, to convey this message and letter of address to you all.

THE  PEOPLE OF PAPUA IN THE STATE OF WEST PAPUA ARE READY FOR

TO HAVE SOVEREIGNTY.

 The nations of the world and the United Nations at this time need to recognise the state of the Federal Republic of Western Papua (NFRPB) at law and to speed up the process of return of control of administration from the Republic of Indonesia to the Federal Republic of Western Papua as a matter of urgency to save the race of Papua from discrimination, marginalisation, injustice, becoming a minority in the land of our ancestors and extinction of our race by creeping genocide.

Freedom of Sovereignty is truly the unconditional right of the people of every nation in the world and this right cannot be undermined by anyone, by any means or with any power as it is an absolute right that is inseparable from the indigenous peoples of a land and which is guaranteed under the General Declaration of the Human Rights of the United Nations and various other international legal instruments regarding self-determination of indigenous peoples.

As Papua also has that same right to full sovereignty as do other nations in the world that have already had their independence  recognised, so we have proclaimed our sovereign independence as a nation within the political manifesto of the nation of Papua that was first proclaimed by the National Committee of Papua (KNP) in the final session of the First National Congress of Papua on 19 October 1961. This Manifesto was approved by the Papuan Parliament on 30 October 1961 following which it was given permanent recognition by the Dutch Government on agreement by the Dutch Queen Yuliana. Then on 1 December 1961 the people of Papua through their representative Papuan Parliament (The Nieuw Guinea Raad ) celebrated their sovereign independence as the Nation of Papua and this was sealed with the raising of the flag of the Nation of Papua, the Morning Star (at that time alongside the flag of the Dutch Kingdom) and accompanied by the national anthem of the Nation of Papua  ‘Hai Tanah Ku Papua’ – ‘Oh My Land Papua’  (which at that time was also together with the Dutch national anthem ‘Wihelmus’).

The sovereign independence of the nation of Papua was defeated by President Soekarno of the Republic of Indonesia with the Declaration of Trikomando (referred to as ‘Trikora’) on 19 December 1961 when occurred:

a)       The breaking up of the declared State of Papua as a creation of the Dutch Colonisers.

b)       The Flying of the Indonesian Red and White flag throughout the land of Papua (then called Irian Jaya)

c)       Preparation for public mobilisation to be achieved through a military invasion of the land of Papua.

However it is important to note that with this first point of the Declaration of Trikora, the President of Indonesia actually acknowledged the legal existence of the State of Papua. The existence of a State of Papua had been clearly established, even though the then President insulted the State of Papua by referring to it as but a ‘puppet state’ and by acting to dismantle the Papuan State.

The annexation of the independent sovereignty of the Nation of Papua that had been acknowledged within the Declaration of Trikora by the then President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), was brought about with the action of the military and political invasion of Papua in 1962. An occupation which has continued to this date.

In the interests of realising the Declaration of Trikora the RI took advantage of the cold war between the west and the east. With the political tactics of the Republic of Indonesia(RI) – which at that time had started working together with the Communist Eastern Block – being perceived as a threat to the economic interests of USA in the Pacific / Asia Region and America’s concern that the Asian Pacific region could become part of the Communist Block, so the then President of USA John F. Kennedy took the following concrete steps:

  1. He sent a diplomatic letter with a Special Representative to the Dutch Queen Yuliana to pressure the Dutch to surrender Papua to RI.
  2. He appointed the former USA Ambassador to the U.N (a Mr Bunker) to prepare a proposal ‘The Finalisation of the Dispute between the Dutch and RI over the land of West Papua.’
  3. For the USA to approach the United Nations (U.N) in regards to putting in place a strategy with U.N for mediation between the Dutch and RI to finalise the dispute over the land of Papua.
  4. USA approached RI to organise a strategy for the annexation of Papua into the RI and at the same time USA assured their own economic interests in Indonesia and in particular in the land of Papua where existed the Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold inc Mine.

The USA played a key role also in pushing for meetings between the Dutch and the RI. Meetings which led to the making of promises to find the ‘best solution’ to finish the dispute over the land of Papua. It is a sad point of history that there was never any Papuan person involved in any of these meetings to convey the will of the Papuan people concerning their fundamental rights and the future of their people.

USA as a result of these steps, succeeded in securing their economic interests in the Asian / Pacific Region against  Russia. They pressured the Dutch to accept a proposal which had been planned and prepared by the USA President’s appointee. The Dutch were forced into signing an agreement together with RI and UN on 15 August 1962. This became known as the New York Agreement.

With the New York Agreement the independent sovereignty of the  nation of Papua was sold-out by the actions of  USA, RI, the Dutch and UN together, without even the people of Papuan being so much as shown the Agreement. With absolute disregard for the voices of the Papuan people that they knew wanted full independent sovereignty for Papua. With the New York Agreement was committed a humanitarian evil and a violation of the most fundamental rights of the community of the people of Papua.

Prior to the New York Agreement, the Dutch had actually taken steps to increase their political diplomatic relations in order to obtain support from other countries in regards to Papua and had previously received positive responses from USA and Australia to help the Dutch defend the land of Papua. However USA and Australia were not consistent in maintaining their commitments to the Dutch and the USA in particular played a double-role as they were at the same time undermining the position of the Dutch in regards to the defence of the territory of Papua. The USA played high-level strategic games to assist RI to annex the independent sovereignty of the nation of Papua into the RI.  Games which culminated in the agreement made in New York.

With the signing of the New York Agreement the power of the Dutch over the land of Papua was finished. The previous Dutch promises to give total independent sovereignty to the people of Papua in 1970 could not be realized. Indeed the hand of the Dutch had been weakened by the strategies and games of USA. With heaviness of heart and tears the Dutch had to leave the land of West Papua. Thousands of Papuans fled Papua at this time due to their sense of loss when the Dutch who had made these promises to give Papua full sovereignty, finally left the land of Papua.

The New York Agreement covered not only the matter of who was recognised as holding sovereignty over the nation of Papua but also matters regarding powers of government administration. At that time the community of Papua had already formed a Papuan Parliament elected direct from the community through a legislative election with Papuan candidates through various Papuan national political parties. With the New York Agreement West Papua came under the UN and was given the title of a ‘United Nations Temporary Authority’ (UNTEA). This title carried the responsibility to prepare the territory for self-determination, however UNTEA under U.N on 1 May 1963 surrendered that power to RI and in doing so a mandate was given to RI to prepare for  a so-called ‘free election’ for Papuans that would decide the future of the people of Papua and in particular whether Papuans wanted full sovereignty or wanted to be part of RI. This action by the U.N cannot be considered acceptable by a sound mind and it is considered by the people of Papua that it was an intentional high-level strategy -or in common terms a ‘dirty action’- applied in order to bring about the annexation of Papua onto the RI.

The process claimed to determine the opinions of the people of Papua – that ironically came to be called ‘The Act of Free Choice’- (known in Papua as ‘PEPERA’) was carried out in 1969. However it was not a necessary process in fact, as the people of Papua had already made clear their desire for independent sovereignty of the nation of Papua through the political manifesto made earlier on 19 October 1961. (Which as previously mentioned), continued to be discussed thereafter in the Papuan Parliament and which was enforced by the Dutch Government with the agreement of Queen Yuliana and which culminated in the celebration of independence by the community of the Nation of Papua on 1 December 1961.) A celebration which had been  marked by the flying of the Papuan flag and singing of the Papuan national anthem (alongside those of the Dutch), an event which was witnessed and attended by representatives of the Dutch Government and of various other nations in the Asia/Pacific Region. The opinion and desires of the Papuan people had already been made clear.

The 1969 Act of Free Choice was and is unacceptable. It was defective both at law and morally. Defective legally as the so-called determination of the community was based on the voice of only 1025 persons which was neither in accordance with the New York Agreement or with general international legal practice; And defective morally because in both the preparation and implementation of the process of obtaining votes there was extremely serious violations of human rights committed by the military which resulted in the voting not being carried out with freedom of choice.

The discrimination, marginalisation and injustices towards the Papuan people since the 1960’s that have been so destructive, together with the humanitarian evils and constant violations of our human rights are now leading to the annihilation of the ethnic Papuan race. These conditions are the direct consequence of the annexation of the sovereignty of Papua within RI which commenced with Trikora by President Soekarno on 19 December 1961 and which was enforced by the  military and political invasion by Indonesia, all of which was assisted by RI’s allies. Actions which culminated in the New York Agreement on 15 August 1962 and the legally and the morally defective Act of Free Choice in 1969 which acted like an umbrella and which ‘smoothed’ out the annexation of Papua.

For 50 years the people of Papua have been colonized by RI and its allies. The first-born rights of the people of Papua were annexed to RI with the help of USA and UN. With the consequence that the community of Papua by this time has been isolated, marginalised, and become a minority in the very land of our ancestors. We have been attacked by injustices in so many dimensions of life. In 1969 the indigenous population of Papua was not very different to the population of PNG on the eastern side of the island, (with less than 100,000 difference). By 2010 the PNG population had grown to over 4 million more than the indigenous population of West Papua. This difference is the result of people in Papua having been butchered through military operations with guns, sharp weapons and blunt ended weapons; the result of alcohol abuse used purposely against our people, the use of the HIV virus and inadequate health services; the result of  poverty and malnutrition, marginalisation and discrimination. All carried out in the interests of RI taking over the land and the natural riches of Papua. The end result  being that the Indonesian military and police force have by direct and indirect means annihilated massive numbers of Papuans.

To maintain their hold on Papua and to prolong the oppression of the Papuan indigenous community, RI has applied basically three approaches:

1)       The approach of creating an illusion of prosperity through Special Autonomy (OTSUS) and the more recent program UP4B and others. The reality is that any benefits under programs have been deflected to benefit those who have migrated to Papua from other islands of Indonesia. Development programs in the land of Papua under RI have never and will never lift the status of the indigenous Papuans and the people know realise that.

2)       The security approach through military and civilian operations (both by overt and covert means)

3)       The cultural approach through the government involving itself in various community organisational activities to bring people over to RI

4)       The religious approach with various spiritual activities of which the government is behind, to steal the hearts of people over to RI.

5)       The criminalisation approach, making those with political aspirations of Papuan independence out to be criminals.

All these efforts are done by RI within their efforts to maintain their hold on Papua and make indigenous Papuans out to be the enemy of society.The situation has now come to the point that Papuans are not even able to defend our individual and political rights.

Within official forums and elsewhere, RI always claims that they have been successful in developing a democracy. They even boast that other nations have acknowledged how fast the Indonesian democracy has grown. But there is still no space for a democracy in the land of Papua. The freedom of Papuans to organise, gather together and to convey opinions in public has been bridled and indeed prohibited through the application of a number of laws which are discriminative and which breach international law. Democracy in the land of Papua is at the end of a barrel of a gun held by the Indonesian military and police. On this date 1 December 2012 the State of Indonesia won’t even give the community of the people of Papua the space to remember and commemorate our historical day when we were declared a nation. Under the repression by the armed forces of Indonesia, so many people have and continue to experience terror, persecution, being forcefully dispersed at peaceful social actions, arrest, arbitrary detention and imprisonment.  Many have died and others still living are on the hit list of wanted persons. There are even those who have been legally prosecuted whilst already in prison, for conveying their opinion peacefully or for  non-violent actions within the prisons. The extent of this persecution has forced many activists and their family members to flee and seek asylum in other countries. Almost every moment of every day there are Papuans who are being terrorised, tortured, raped, arrested, imprisoned and killed by RI through the actions of the Indonesian military and police.

Amidst this persecution, the State of Indonesia is at the same time applying tactics to fragmentise the Papuan community by pushing constantly for the divisions of Papua into more provinces, more local government regencies, more districts and more village areas. Their goal in so doing being to increase their control over the land and natural resources of Papua; By at the same time creating more and more military and police posts throughout the land and carrying out increasing numbers of undercover military operations targeting independence activists and their families, they are ever increasing the level of control of Papuans to that degree  as to leave no ‘room to move’ for any Papuans who may have independence aspirations. These tactics together with making Papuans  a minority (due to assisted/encouraged migration) resulting also in the taking over the market economy of Papua, have led to the end result of making the Papuan community permanently poor, marginalised and overlooked; And in time, annihilated.

Data shows that the percentage of indigenous Papuans within the total population of Papua in 2011 was 47.5% (compared to those who have migrated  from outside Papua at 53%). According to research done by Sydney University it can be concluded that by the year 2020 at present rates, that  the percentage of migrants in Papua will have reached 70.8% whilst indigenous Papuans will have by then declined to a mere 29.2%; The same research shows that if Papua remains a part of RI, that by the year 2030 the Papuan race will be extinct because of the both undisguised and undercover military operations wrapped in a range of policies and programs that have been applied by RI with the purpose of annihilating the ethnic Papuan race.

In regards to ‘development programs’ within Papua, the application of the funds has not been for the advancement of indigenous Papuans but rather for the development of programs that bring about marginalisation, that creates systems that allow killing of Papuans, programs that increase discrimination and injustice. In summary the development of programs that contribute to the annihilation of the ethnic Papuan race. If one looks closely it is clear. The people of Papua are not struggling for higher education or for adequate food or health services. Rather we struggle to save the ethnic Papuan people from the very real danger and threat of annihilation. We struggle for the upholding of our human dignity.

Until now particular nations in the international community have been providing funding together with equipment and other forms of assistance to RI for the ‘development’ of the land of Papua. We are aware that there are other nations who think that the Papuan struggle is because there have not been developments in the state of our welfare. However that opinion is absolutely in error! We will never experience peace and prosperity as long as Papua remains under Indonesia and we can say that after now 50 years under colonization by RI. Since when has Indonesia not been capable of upholding our value as human beings? The fact is that from the start Indonesia has purposely stigmatised us as not being capable, as being lazy and so on. We have had enough of this derogatory stigmatisation. We will not forever be under RI! We have and will continue to struggle for Papua’s full sovereignty to be recognised so as to bring our people into the reality of peace and prosperity in the Nation of West Papua! Then we ourselves standing on our own feet will develop the nation of Papua and will welcome those other nations who wish to journey with us. We take this opportunity today to ask that other nations stop providing international financial and other forms of assistance to RI for the ‘development’ of Papua as it will never be successful in helping us. Rather close ranks with us to fully support our struggle for sovereignty as only through this means will we be able to actualise peace and prosperity in our land.

Looking at the present situation, RI has heightened its strategies to confront the Papuan Movement which is advancing both inside and outside the country. RI has in fact shown itself not capable of facing up to the Papuan independence movement and as a result they have resorted to using a number of means to undermine the credibility of the Papuan movement in the opinion of the international community. The engineering of cases to make Papuans out to be criminals and using the term ‘terrorist’ against activists is but two of the strategies being used to this end. We need to emphasise that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PAPUAN PERSON INVOLVED IN TERRORISM! What does exist is activists who are struggling for the sovereign independence of the land of Papua.

In summary the root of the problem in the land of Papua is not an issue of welfare and is not an issue of development; Rather it is the annexation of the sovereign independence of Papua within the Republic of Indonesia that occurred through the Declaration of Trikora on 19 December 1961, then the New York Agreement and  the 1969 morally and legally flawed Act of Free Choice. An annexation that occurred through political and military invasion by Indonesia with the assistance of the USA and UN.  An annexation that has seen practices applied that are inhumane, that are not civilised and that are not just. The problem IS NOT a matter of welfare! We struggle not for prosperity but for the return of our right as the indigenous first-born peoples of the land and for the fundamental rights of the people of Papua. We do not want the cheap offers of political packages from RI which we do not trust and which we loathe.

The holding of the III National Papuan Congress on 19 October 2011 was in response to the legally and morally flawed Act of Free Choice in 1969 and was a decision of the highest order of the Papuan People. At the peak of the Congress Papua declared the return of its independent sovereignty to the people of Papua. The purpose of this declaration was:

  1. The return of Papua’s independent sovereignty that had been annexed by the Declaration of Trikora, the New York Agreement and the Act of Free Choice.
  2. The restoration of the nationhood of Papua that had been acknowledged legally by the Indonesian President within the Declaration of Trikora on 19 December 1961, though insulted it by calling the State of Papua a ‘puppet state’.
  3. To charge the annexation of sovereignty of the nation of Papua to RI as having been carried out by RI with the assistance of the USA and U.N.

At the III Papuan Congress the people of Papua declared themselves the Federal Republic of West Papua. Within all forums and within all organisations there are always differences of opinion and we consider the existence of differences of opinion to be proper and the healthy dynamics of a total struggle for freedom and of a true democracy. Accordingly there are differences of opinions amongst activists, organisations, and factions within the Papuan Struggle. We focused our attention on internal consolidation to address this aspect of the Movement in the early stages of the III Congress of Papua until we had lawful acknowledgement of the Federal Republic of West Papua.

We consider the declaration of the return of our independent sovereignty as the Nation of Papua in the last session of the III Congress of Papua on 19 October 2011 at the Zakeus Field in Padang Bulan, Abepura, Jayapura, West Papua, to be the final solution. Even though at this time there are still those expressing the need for a repeat referendum and decolonisation and of course we deeply value their efforts, nevertheless the community of Papua at the III Congress of Papua chose a path that took steps beyond that with the declaration of the restoration of the sovereignty of Papua and the birth of the Federal Republic of West Papua.  We will defend this and hope that both Papuans and the international community wherever they may be, will appreciate the results of the highest level of decision of the people of Papua so as to bring about a recognition of these results at law and bring about the restoration of governance from RI to the Federal Republic of West Papua in the near future. The community of Papua will continue to defend the Federal Republic of West Papua and without ceasing will continue to push for recognition at law by other nations of the world and the UN. We will continue to lobby for permanent membership at the UN and restoration of the power of governance from RI to the Federal Republic of West Papua.

Our longing to be free from all forms of tyranny of oppression has become like spiritual wounds which cannot heal with the various cheap offers from RI. Offers that are but wrappings which in reality are developments of systems of marginalisation and systems which kill and trick Papuans. These spiritual wounds will only be healed with full restoration of Papua’s sovereignty. Those moments when we are together as a people, our longing for freedom becomes renewed, our hopes are raised from the crushing and the stress and we receive inspiration and new strength to keep struggling towards that victory which is a peaceful revolution and a revolution of our beliefs. We long for peace and freedom from all forms of tyrannic oppression but we also long for recognition of our human dignity and human value and for the sovereignty of our people as a nation to be acknowledged. We endure in the Struggle using only peaceful means in keeping with decisions of the people made previously at the II Papuan Congress and last year at the III Papuan Congress. Even though struggling without the use of violence feels like a very long struggle and there is no definitive end, yet we are convicted that in time we will have obtain recognition of our sovereignty through our struggle with the help of God and the support of the international community working in solidarity and support of the U.N.

On this historical date when we commemorate the 51st anniversary of the independent sovereignty of the nation of Papua (1 December 1961 – 1 December 2012), in my role as the General Chairperson of the United Front of the Struggle of the People of West Papua  (Persatuan Perjuangan Rakyat Papua Barat- PEPERA) and as the Ex- Chairperson of the Committee of the III Papuan National Congress and as a West Papuan political prisoner of conscience, from behind prison walls of neo-colonial RI I wish to emphasise:

  1. That the people of Papua are ready for full independent sovereignty at this time and are ready to develop the nation of West Papua ourselves.
  2. That the people of Papua have for 50 years been the victim of conspiracies in the interests of other nations. We now ask the international community who care about our suffering, to urge the nations of the world to acknowledge the Federal Republic of West Papua at law and to urge the U.N to acknowledge the Nation of Papua and to receive Papua as a permanent member of the U.N, and to lobby for the swift restoration of administrative governance from RI to the Federal Republic of West Papua.
  3. Our request that the international community emphatically rejects all forms of acknowledgement of ‘Papua being within RI’, as the very statement thereof gives legitimacy and support to Indonesia to carry out inhumane acts and to violate human rights, to create injustices, to discriminate and marginalise and to annihilate ethnic Papuans.
  4. Our request to the international community to discontinue all forms of international aid and assistance to Indonesia for the development of Papua as these are being used to fund military and civil operations to kill the people of Papua.
  5. To say to Papuans wherever you may be, let us unite as one and guard the achievements of the III National Papuan Congress including the declaration of restoration of independent sovereignty to the nation of Papua as the final solution to finish all the problems and the political status of Papua. Let us struggle without ceasing to achieve legal recognition of the Federal Republic of West Papua from the other nations of the world and to lobby to be received as a member of U.N and to bring about the swift restoration of administrative governance to the Federal Republic of West Papua.
  6. For the international community to lobby the State of Indonesia to cease dismissing the Federal Republic of West Papua and immediately recognise the Federal Republic at law and to arrange for the swift restoration of the power of governance from RI to the Federal Republic of West Papua.
  7. For the international community to urge the State of Indonesia to immediately cease the use of violence in the land of Papua and to enter into dialogue as two nations and two countries to discuss all the problems that have occurred and to look for solutions that uphold dignity and which will finish the to-date endless conflict in the land of Papua.
  8. That we urge the international community whether as individuals, as NGO’s, as religious bodies or as nations, together with U.N to strongly urge RI to hold consultations with the people of Papua to discuss the many problems and to address the problem of the distortion of the history the nation of Papua and to reach agreement to a solution that upholds dignity as two nations and states.

In regards to forums of the Pacific region, West Papua has been forgotten by both the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). West Papua has become the subject of matters of conspiracy in the political interests of RI and the USA economy. Despite the cries of Papuans for freedom from the oppression of RI, cries which echo throughout the whole world whether through the printed or electronic media and through various formal forums, these are but cries that just fade away without response and without attempts at solutions. West Papua is within the same racial grouping as Melanesia but nevertheless we have been forgotten by the MSG and PIF forums. They have just ignored the voices of NGO’s and churches acting together that have urged the MSG and PIF governing committees to hear the cries of the people of Papua. We are well aware that until now there has not been sufficiently intensive lobbying done by our Movement in countries within our region and that has been due to a lack of funding. But does this mean West Papua will continue to be forgotten within the forums of MSG and PIF? We truly hope that within the coming meetings of MSG and PIF that there will be an official invitation to the Federal Republic of West Papua to become a permanent member of both MSG and PIF. And that together with other nations of the Pacific Region that the issues of Papua might be carried to the assemblies of the U.N.

The road that leads to Freedom for West Papua has been paved by those who have gone before us. We who are continuing on in the Struggle are left to finish that journey. The road on which we journey has so many potholes which we must make level. The bridge which has been destroyed, we must now repair. The path of the Struggle of West Papua is a way of truth. And the path of truth is the road to total freedom with full sovereignty.  One step at a time West Papua must be rid of discrimination, marginalization, injustice, being made a minority and the creeping annihilation of ethnic Papuans. At the end of the road of Struggle there is freedom. So strengthen your hearts and beliefs in heading for the harbor of freedom.  Unite our ranks and complete this journey! We have already come through many challenges. At the end of our sacrifices our people will be saved.

May you enjoy the celebration of the 51st anniversary of the Independence of the Nation of Papua!

8.   to the international community and in particular to those supporters in Brisbane, Australia to whom this will be formally read on 1 December 2012:  For your attention to our cause, working together and your support, I express our heartfelt appreciation.

‘The saving of those who are enchained by the tyranny of oppression and persecution is the highest form of law.’

   Selpius Bobii      General Chairperson –        The United Front of the Struggle of the People of Papua

 From Behind Prison Walls,

 Abepura Prison, Papua

1 December 2012

         

( Unity without limits, Struggle until victorius! )

 
   

 

Dr Eban Kirksey on West Papua

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Freedom in Entangled Worlds: West Papua and the Architecture of Global PoweDr Eben Kirksey is a US academic and long-time advocate for human rights and justice in West Papua.

He will speak in Brisbane in October about West Papua and his new book on the situation in this troubled region of Indonesia. His major Brisbane talk will be held on Wednesday 17 October, 5.30 p.m. for 6 p.m. at the College Hall, St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill. Entry is free, but donations to support human rights work in West Papua will be gratefully accepted. Copies of Dr Kirksey’s book, Freedom in Entangled Worlds, will also be on sale. Coffee and tea will be available on arrival.

Other talks will be held at Cafe IRA, Tugun, on Thursday 18 October, 4 – 6 pm and at the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba on Friday 19 October at 12.30 pm.

Download Eban Kirksey Brisbane Flyer (pdf)  here

Download Edan KirkseyTugan Flyer I(pdf) here

Download Eban Kirksey UQ Event Flyer (pdf) here

Download Eban Kirksey Toowoomba Event Flyer (doc) here

Eben Kirksey first went to West Papua, the Indonesian-controlled half of New Guinea, as an exchange student in 1998. His later study of West Papua’s resistance to the Indonesian occupiers and the forces of globalization morphed as he discovered that collaboration, rather than resistance, was the primary strategy of this dynamic social movement. Accompanying indigenous activists to Washington, London, and the offices of the oil giant BP, Kirksey saw the revolutionaries’ knack for getting inside institutions of power and building coalitions with unlikely allies, including many Indonesians. He discovered that the West Papuans’ pragmatic activism was based on visions of dramatic transformations on coming horizons, of a future in which they would give away their natural resources in grand humanitarian gestures, rather than watch their homeland be drained of timber, gold, copper, and natural gas. During a lengthy, brutal occupation, West Papuans have harbored a messianic spirit and channeled it in surprising directions. Kirksey studied West Papua’s movement for freedom while a broad-based popular uprising gained traction from 1998 until 2008. Blending ethnographic research with indigenous parables, historical accounts, and narratives of his own experiences, he argues that seeking freedom in entangled worlds requires negotiating complex interdependencies.

Freedom in Entangled Worlds from Eben Kirksey on Vimeo.

Respect and Understanding Needed on Tent Embassy

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Thursday 28 June 2012

Aboriginal Tent Embassy Brisbane

Aboriginal Tent Embassy Brisbane

The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane, along with its Aboriginal partners and advisors, welcomes the recent dropping of police charges against a number of people who came to support local Aboriginal people and the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in May.

 It is our hope that charges against others arrested by police will also be dropped.

We do not want to see the ugly confrontation between police, the Brisbane City Council, Aboriginal people and their supporters, which occurred on 16 May at Musgrave Park, repeated.

The sight of over 200 police officers surrounding Aboriginal people at the Tent Embassy at Musgrave Park was a sorry reminder to Aboriginal people of the troubled and difficult relations they have experienced with the police in this State over many years.

The indignity of being evicted by force by police at the request of Council authorities from land with which they have a long and deep connection was also a sorry reminder of their dispossession and all its negative consequences.

We welcome the conciliatory and respectful approaches and dialogue which have taken place between the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Brisbane City Council officers and elders and representatives of the local Aboriginal communities since the confrontation.  It is hoped that this constructive approach will achieve positive outcomes for both the first peoples of this land and for the municipal authorities.

We implore both the State Government and the Queensland Police to follow the Council’s lead so that respectful and productive relationships can be established and cooperative partnerships can be formed to address the problems that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face across Queensland.

As we approachAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday on 1 July and NAIDOC Week (July 1 – 8), we acknowledge efforts by Church agencies, parishes and schools to develop relationships with local Aboriginal people.  We encourage them to maintain and increase such efforts.

In particular, we encourage Catholics and people in the wider community to learn more about the history of Aboriginal peoples’ connection with Musgrave Park in South Brisbane and with other significant sites around south-east Queensland.

We also urge Catholics to learn more about the significance of the first Aboriginal Tent Embassy which was established in Canberra forty years ago and to walk with them on their on-going struggle for justice.

Finally, we wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of Aboriginal church workers and Aboriginal Christians who have worked tirelessly to support their sisters and brothers in the Tent Embassy in Musgrave Park since its establishment and for their long standing efforts to ensure that their people are afforded dignity in many difficult situations over many years.  These humble and faithful people are extraordinary witnesses to God’s abundant mercy and love.  May God continue to bless their work and inspire others to join them in their efforts to build a civilisation of love in Jesus’ name.

For further information and comment, please contact Peter Arndt (Catholic Justice & Peace Commission) on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476 or Ravina Waldren (Murri Ministry) on (07) 3891 5911 or 0408 707 101.

 This statement is issued by the Commission under the provisions of its mandate which enable it to speak in its own right and has been authorised by the Commission’s Executive and its Aboriginal advisors before release. 

Commission to Screen Queensland Documentary on World Environment Day

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Friday 1 June 2012

 

Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission will host a World Environment Day screening of a documentary film depicting the struggle of Central Queensland communities against coal and gas extraction in their region.

Directed by US-based filmmaker Michael O’Connell, the film, Bimblebox, follows the story of Paola Cassoni, a resident of Alpha, Queensland, and co-owner of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge.

Bimblebox Nature Refuge is an 8000 ha property north of Alpha and directly in the path of the proposed ‘China First’ coal mine, an operation that, if given the go ahead, will be the world’s largest coal mine.

The documentary features interviews with leading academics, scientists, and former miners, as well as members of the communities impacted by mining. , It builds a picture of the broader implications of Australia’s mining boom, while focussing on one woman’s fight to protect the land she loves.

“This documentary was born out of the necessity” Ms Cassoni said, “to let the broader public know that our bush, our communities, our farms and our waters are going through a radical transformation.”

“It shows the daily battles and frustrations of ordinary people in dealing with both mining corporations and indifferent Governments,” she said.

It’s more than a hint that we need a new direction in energy consumption both at home and globally,” she added.

Mr O’Connell is an experienced environmental documentary film maker, having previously made Mountain Top Removal, a documentary which focussed on the issue of coal mining in the US region of Appalachia and received numerous awards including the ‘Reel Current’ award, presented by Al Gore, at the Nashville Film Festival.

“After making my film Mountain Top Removal I wanted to look at the global issue of mining and also explore the alternatives to fossil fuels.  Australia was a perfect place to do that,” Mr O’Connell said.

The Justice and Peace Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the Commission was keen to promote the broadest possible discussion of the issues surrounding coal mining and gas extraction in Queensland.

“This film gives us the chance to hear the views and feelings of people living in the central west of Queensland whose lives and lands will be directly affected by very large mining developments,” Mr Arndt said.

“Christians have a responsibility to care for the earth and to defend the human dignity of all people now and in the future,” he said.

“It is not only the very powerful voices of Government Ministers and mining company executives which must be heard, but also those of graziers, workers and families living in areas affected by the decisions and actions of government and business,” he said.

Bimblebox will screen at the Aspinall Centre, St Bernard’s Parish, Klumpp Road, Upper Mt Gravatt, at 7 p.m. on World Environment Day, Tuesday 5 June.

A panel of speakers will discuss the film after its screening and light refreshments will be served.

Donations to help cover costs will be gratefully accepted.  Bookings to help with catering may be made by e-mailing em.fl@bne.catholic.net.au or by phoning Sandi on 3336 9174.

Government Must Challenge Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Record in Talks

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Friday 4 May 2012

 

The Australian Government must raise the issue of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka in talks currently taking place between the Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, and the Sri Lankan Government, according to Executive Officer of Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Peter Arndt.

The Immigration Minister has spent the last three days in Sri Lanka in order to discuss on-going cooperation to counter people smuggling.

Mr Arndt said that Mr Bowen should not turn a blind eye in his discussions to reports of on-going abuses of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority by the military.

“We are very concerned about reports that some Tamil asylum seekers whose claims for protection have failed were deported to Sri Lanka and subsequently subjected to rape, beatings and torture,” Mr Arndt said.

“A Human Rights Watch investigation shows at least eight Tamil asylum seekers were deported to Sri Lanka by the British Government and were abused by the Sri Lankan military in various ways,” he said.

“The Sri Lankan Government has thumbed its nose at the international community with its refusal to implement recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission,” he said.

“The UN Human Rights Council has called on the Sri Lankan Government to implement the Commission’s recommendations to deal with the injustices and abuses committed during Sri Lanka’s brutal and long-running civil war, but theSri Lankan Government refuses to do the right thing,” he said.

“There is still a massive military presence in the traditional homelands of the Tamil minority in the north and east and there are still reports of military violence and abuses of the Tamil people in the area,” he said.

“The Australian Government knows the Sri Lankan Government has questions to answer about human rights abuses committed during the civil war and that significant human rights concerns still exist in Sri Lanka,” he said.

“Australia cannot ignore these matters when it is talking to the Sri Lankan Government about stopping more Tamils coming to Australia and seeking asylum,” he said.

“Tamils and other minorities in Sri Lanka will stop fleeing their country when they can live in their own lands free from fear and oppression,” he said.

“The Sri Lankan Government will not get the message about human rights abuses if Australia keeps dealing with them as if it is business as usual,” he said.

“Australia cannot send Tamils back to Sri Lanka if it knows there is a strong possibility that they will be subjected to violence,” he said.

For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

 NB  This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Mandate which enables it to speak in its own right.  The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Kathy Kelly Brisbane Events

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The 2011 Pace e Bene Australia
NATIONAL INSPIRITOR TOUR
 Kathy Kelly and Friends
13 October – 27 November

Pace e Bene Australia are pleased to announce that Kathy Kelly will be traveling across the country for 6 weeks visiting schools, universities, churches, public meetings, facilitating retreats and other various groups.  Every 2 years Pace e Bene Australia invites a world renowned nonviolence practitioner and educator to inspire us in the journey from violence to wholeness.  Kathy will be drawing on her experiences from witnessing wars, leading teams on peace campaigns in conflict zones and standing against war in her own country the US in order to help inspire us us as we attempt to create a peaceful and less violent society here in Australia.

Please follow us here or on Facebook or Twitter for information about events in your state as they unfold.  Or contact us for more information.

BRISBANE

 

The Cost of War the Price of Peace.
Thursday 27th Oct.
7.15 pm for 7.30pm start
Parliamentary Annexe, Alice St., Brisbane.
Cost $15 waged $10 unwaged
Co sponsored by Believing Women for a Culture of Peace.

Just Peace 10th Anniversary Dinner (Guest Speaker)
Friday 28th Oct. 
2nd Floor TLC Building 16 Peel St. Sth. Brisbane
contact  Annette on 0431597256

Nonviolence Workshop for Young adults
Saturday 29th Oct. 10am-4pm Nonviolence
West End Uniting Church, Cnr. Sussex and Vulture St. West End
Cost waged $10 Unwaged $8
Lunch  provided by Food not Bombs
RSVP by Oct. 24th to Elizabeth on 0408 742 694  or elizabeth.florence@uqconnect.edu.au

Co sponsored by Project Hope, Waiters Union.

Afternoon Tea : Cost of War on Woman and children in Afghanistan
Sunday 30th Oct.
2pm-4pm Afternoon Tea,
West End Uniting Church, Sussex St, West End.
Cost $15 or  $10 concession.
Co sponsored by Womens International League for Peace and Freedom (Brisbane)

Click Here To Download The Brisbane Flyer

 

For more information about events in QLD please contact :
Carole Powell
(07) 5498 5247
peacedove@bigpond.com

Deaths in Custody Campaign Launched

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Sunday 2 October 2011

Memorial Candle at Launch of Campaign

Memorial Candle at Launch of Campaign

Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and the Archdiocesan Murri Ministry Team joined together to launch a campaign to get Government action to address on-going Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody.

The campaign was launched last Wednesday evening at Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, on the anniversary of the death in custody of a 16 year old Aboriginal youth, John Pat, in 1983.

John Pat was punched and kicked by off-duty police officers when he tried to help another Aboriginal man who was involved in a fight with the police officers outside a hotel in Roeburn, Western Australia.

Pat died as a result of his injuries.  Charges were laid against the police involved, but none was convicted.

John Pat’s death was one of 99 Aboriginal deaths in custody investigated by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody which delivered its final report to the Federal Government twenty years ago this April.

The event was chaired by the Director of Brisbane Murri Watch, Mr Ken Georgetown, and prominent elders, Aunty Alex Gater and Aunty Jean Phillips, led prayers during the launch.

Candles were lit to remember John Pat and all the other Indigenous people who have died in paddy wagons, watch houses and jails throughout Australia.

The Coordinator of the Murri Ministry Team, Ms Ravina Waldren, said she had a heavy heart as she remembered the many Aboriginal people who have died in custody over the years.

“I feel deep pain knowing that my people keep dying in custody,” Ms Waldren said.

The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that Governments must take action to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission if Aboriginal deaths in custody are to stop.

“The Royal Commission made 339 recommendations, but most of them have not been implemented,” Mr Arndt said.

“Since the Royal Commission handed down its report, there have been almost four hundred more black deaths in custody,” he said.

“The fact that the rate of Indigenous imprisonment continues to rise is a major contributing factor,” he said.

The campaign is supported by many Indigenous and community organisations.

Its objectives include:

A full audit of the implemantation of the Royal Commision’s recommendations and all deaths in custody in the last twenty years

  • Inclusion of justice as one of the key indicators which are targeted for improvement by the Council of Australian Governments;
  • The establishment of a fully funded national Deaths in Custody Watch Committee;
  • The establishment of a Royal Commission into the death in custody of Mulrunje on Palm Island in 2004 and all subsequent actions by the Queensland Government, police and other authorities involved in dealing with the case.

The campaign organisers are arranging a number of other events this year including a prayer vigil on 7 November, the anniversary of the death of young Brisbane Aboriginal man, Daniel Yock, and a rally and march on 19 November, the anniversary of the death of Mulrunje on Palm Island.

“It is high time that things changed for the better and we will keep going with our campaign to ensure that Governments listen and take action,” Ms Waldren said.

An initial information sheet has been produced and will be available on the Commission’s blog at http://cjpcbrisbane.wordpress.com/ Queensland Churches Together Indigenous Peoples Partnership will also distribute it to congregations and parishes in all member churches throughout the State.

For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

NB  This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Mandate which enables it to speak in its own right.  The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Media Release Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Campaign 2011

Deaths in Custody launch fact sheet