PM needs to put human rights in West Papua on Jakarta agenda | Human Rights Law Centre

29.9.13

PM needs to put human rights in West Papua on Jakarta agenda | Human Rights Law Centre: The Human Rights Law Centre’s Director of Communications, Tom Clarke, said the arrival of seven asylum seekers from Indonesia’s troubled Papua provinces and their subsequent swift removal, should be a reminder of the expectation for Australia to provide human rights leadership in our region.

“Reports of political assassinations, torture and the violent repression of peaceful political gatherings in Indonesia’s Papuan provinces are all too common. Fundamental human rights are regularly violated. It’s understandable that people will come to Australia seeking our protection,” said Mr Clarke.

Acknowledging that any human rights advocacy on Australia’s behalf risks being diminished by problems with its own asylum seeker policies, Mr Clarke said both Indonesia and Australia stand to benefit from some straight talking about human rights concerns.

“The Australian-Indonesian relationship needs to become mature enough to handle two-way criticisms about human rights problems,” said Mr Clarke.