West Papua Action Auckland (WPAA) is shocked at
Murray McCully’s refusal to back a fact-finding mission for West Papua at the
Pacific Island Forum.
‘It is well past time that New Zealand woke up to
the most serious human rights crisis in the Pacific. The blind eye approach is
disgraceful in the face of ongoing security force killings and torture not to
mention the repression of basic freedoms such as the right to raise a flag or
get signatures on a petition,’ said Maire Leadbeater for West Papua Action Auckland.
‘The fact that West Papua is on the Forum agenda
for the first time since 2007 is proof that the people of the Pacific want to
see change for their Melanesian sisters and brothers. The issue is one of the
five key issues for consideration by the 16 Pacific delegations – but
apparently New Zealand already has a closed mind.’
‘This year’s Forum has a clear challenge – West
Papuan people are pleading for their Pacific neighbours to hear their cries and
a fact finding mission is a modest step in the right direction. The
consequences of doing nothing would cast doubt on the future of the Forum as
anything more than a talk-fest.’
‘The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) opted to
grant observer status to the new umbrella group the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. The MSG leaders accepted a 55,000 signature petition calling
for West Papuan inclusion in the MSG – the signatures were gathered from people
from all across the territory despite severe security force intimidation. This
amazing democratic effort must not be in vain.