Campeace Letter to Senator CampbellDear Senator Campbell,We have learnt with regret that the motion of Tasmania Senator Bob Brown on the Papuan flag was passed over as not-urgent on the 13th of October. As you may know over 30 people have died as a result of Indonesia not respecting the right of West Papuans to raise their flag. For two years West Papuans have been campaigning peacefully for the recognition of their rights, including the right to self-determination that Indonesia has never acknowledged despite previous international agreements. Since the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998 not once has the Free Papua Movement or any other Papuan organisation attacked Indonesians, save for the victims of the riots in Wamena. This was sparked by the shooting of at least 22 peaceful protesters, 5 of which died. Over a hundred protesters were arrested, twelve of whom were tortured under police custody, were whipped, kicked, slashed with razors, hit with rifle butts and sexually assaulted. One of them was tortured to death. It is the latest incident in 38 years of military repression in West Papua, against which the Australian government has unfortunately not once raised a voice in protest. This is despite continual condemnation by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Survival International, Tapol and other international organisations, including the Australian United Nations Association. It is especially regrettable that the present government not bound by former cold war pressures, nevertheless continues the deplorable tactic of previous administrations. The Morning Star flag was given to the West Papuans by the Dutch in agreement with the local assemblies and remains the emblem of Papuan identity. Please, respect the right of the Papuans to raise their flag and review the motion of Senator Brown. Yours respectfully, Nick Angelopoulos |