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Project SafeCom News and Updates 27 March 2006 (2)
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Project SafeCom
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Mar 27, 2006 00:52 PST
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Project SafeCom News and Updates 27 March 2006 (2)
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1. Papuans granted temporary visas
2. Granting visas to Papuans 'an unfriendly gesture'
3. Govt moves to prevent Indonesian anger over Papuan visas
4. Protesters rally outside Jakarta embassy
5. Refugee row threatens prisoner exchange
6. Indonesia considers banning Australian senator over Papua violence
7. Visa huff shows contempt for law: Brown
8. Lost at sea in political storm
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==========================
1. Papuans granted temporary visas
==========================
ABC ONLINE NEWS
Thursday, March 23, 2006. 3:12pm (AEDT)
The Department of Immigration has granted temporary protection visas to 42
Indonesians from Papua province who arrived in Australia in January.
The 42 people will be relocated to Melbourne from the Christmas Island
detention centre.
A decision is yet to be made on a visa application from another person who
arrived in Australia with that group.
The Immigration Department's move flies in the face of a request from the
Indonesian Government to send the asylum seekers home.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says the claims were decided on their
merits.
"Each claim is an individual claim, it's not a claim about a particular
country; that's an important point to make," she said.
The Papuans, who include pro-independence activists and their families,
arrived in northern Australia after a five-day voyage in an outrigger canoe.
They said they feared death if returned to Papua, where a sporadic and
low-level separatist insurgency has been going on for decades.
But Indonesia had stated that the asylum seekers were not being persecuted
in Papua and were not being sought by the authorities.
Police had guaranteed they would not be harmed should they return home.
Papuans and human rights groups have accused Indonesian authorities of
widespread abuses in the remote province, a former Dutch colony that
Indonesia took over in the 1960s.
Indonesia won sovereignty over Papua, then called West Irian, in 1969 after
the UN allowed an integration referendum with a public show of hands by a
few hundred hand-picked tribal leaders. Critics labelled the vote a sham.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1599175.htm
=====================================
2. Granting visas to Papuans 'an unfriendly gesture'
=====================================
Sydney Morning Herald
March 23, 2006 - 8:08PM
Australia's decision to grant temporary visas to 42 Papuan asylum seekers
is an "unfriendly" act and Indonesia must protest, a senior Indonesian MP
said on Thursday.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone on Thursday announced 42 of the 43
Papuans who landed at Cape York in January have received temporary
protection visas (TPV) and would be relocated from Christmas Island to
Melbourne.
The group have said they feared they would be killed if they were sent home
- a charge Indonesian officials deny.
A spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Dino Pati Djalal, said
Jakarta was still drafting a response to the announcement.
But Djoko Susilo, a nationalist MP and member of Indonesia's powerful
foreign affairs commission in the parliament, said the decision was "too much".
"Giving asylum to them means Australia confirms what's been claimed by the
group," he said.
"This is an unfriendly gesture by the Australian government."
The 36 adults and seven children, who include pro-independence activists
and their families, spent five days at sea in a dugout canoe before
arriving on Cape York in January.
They have accused the Indonesian military of conducting genocide in Papua,
a former Dutch colony taken over by Indonesia in the 1960s following an
independence referendum widely dismissed as rigged.
Yudhoyono phoned Prime Minister John Howard, saying the group should not be
given political asylum and should be returned to Indonesia, promising they
would not be harmed.
Djoko said the group should not be given asylum under any circumstances.
"The Indonesian government must mount a diplomatic protest," he said.
Aloysius Renuaren, the Papua director of the Indonesian human rights
watchdog Elsham, said the was no doubt the group had legitimate claims to
asylum, highlighted by recent violence in the restive province in which
five security officers were killed.
"They felt intimidated," he said.
Renuaren said he had once been the lawyer for the leader of the group,
Herman Wanggai, after he was arrested in 2002 for raising the banned
morning star independence flag.
Wanggai and another separatist were found guilty of rebellion and sentenced
to two years in prison. They were released in 2004.
"Afterwards he was afraid," Renuaren said.
"It's his choice where he feels safer, in Indonesia, Papua or Australia.
It's a freedom of rights issue for him."
Indonesia's government declined immediate comment, but one politician, Yudy
Chrisnandy, urged the government to formally protest Canberra's decision.
"It is unethical," said Chrisnandy. "It goes against our good bilateral
relationship."
Nationalist politician Effendy Simbolon said: "We very much regret this
decision.
"Such a move is not the work of a friendly neighbour."
Earlier, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer personally telephoned his
Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda to inform him of Australia's
decision to grant the temporary visas.
A spokesman for Mr Downer said the minister made the call to Dr Wirajuda
because it was the "neighbourly" thing to do.
"It was only neighbourly to inform our neighbours of this decision," he said.
"It's a matter of some significance between our two countries."
Indonesia's ambassador to Australia, Hamzah Thayeb, was also invited to a
meeting with the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Michael L'Estrange, to discuss the immigration decision, Mr Downer's
spokesman said.
The Indonesian embassy in Canberra declined to immediately comment on the
matter.
However Mr Thayeb said last month Australia's relationship with Indonesia
would be affected if the Papuans were granted asylum.
Announcing the decision earlier today, Senator Vanstone said 42 of the 43
Papuans who landed at Cape York in January had received temporary
protection visas (TPV) and would be relocated from Christmas Island to
Melbourne.
"They will have access to the same services as other TPV holders," Senator
Vanstone said.
She said a decision was still pending on one of the asylum seekers as there
were further, specific case issues to be addressed.
The 36 adults and seven children, who spent five days at sea before
arriving on Cape York, have accused the Indonesian military of conducting
genocide in their homeland.
The families have been staying in immigration housing on Christmas Island
while the single men have been kept in the detention centre.
Refugee groups have called for them to be released on temporary protection
visas since their arrival.
AAP/AP
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/42-indonesian-asylum-seekers-granted-temporary-visas/2006/03/23/1143083886018.html
============================================
3. Govt moves to prevent Indonesian anger over Papuan visas
============================================
ABC ONLINE NEWS
Thursday, March 23, 2006. 6:16pm (AEDT)
The Federal Government has moved to forestall anger in Indonesia over a
decision to grant temporary protection visas to a group of people from the
Indonesian province of Papua.
All but one of the 43 Papuans who arrived in Australia's north in January
on an outrigger canoe will be allowed to stay in the country on temporary
protection visas.
The group's leader had claimed they would be killed if forced to return
home - a claim dismissed by the Indonesian Government.
Ten of the refugees are currently in Perth, where several of them are
receiving medical treatment and one of them is in hospital.
Jacob Rumbiak from the West Papuan Association says they are relieved to
have escaped from the turmoil of their homeland.
"In Australia, no military or police come and beat people in their home or
something like that when they compare with in Papua," he said.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says the prospect of harming relations
with Indonesia was not a factor taken into account when deciding to grant
the visas.
"Each claim has to be considered on its merits," Senator Vanstone said.
A spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Minister says Alexander Downer spoke to
his Indonesian counterpart to advise him of the decision, while Indonesia's
ambassador to Australia has met with the head of Foreign Affairs.
There has been no comment from the Indonesian embassy.
The 42 people will be relocated to Melbourne from the Christmas Island
detention centre.
Relations
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda has called a meeting with
departmental officials to discuss the implications of Australia's granting
of the temporary protection visas.
The issue of Papua's separatist movement is an extremely sensitive one with
for the Indonesian Government.
That concern was evident earlier this year when President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono phoned Prime Minister John Howard asking that the asylum seekers
not be granted asylum and that they be returned to Indonesia.
The issue was at the top of the agenda when Australia's Foreign Minister
met with his Indonesian counterpart in Jakarta last month.
Mr Downer asked for understanding of Australia's obligations under UN
Refugee Conventions.
"We certainly don't support the secession of Papua from the Republic of
Indonesia," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1599377.htm
===============================
4. Protesters rally outside Jakarta embassy
===============================
Yahoo News/AAP
Monday March 27, 04:01 PM
Hundreds of people have rallied outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta
to protest against the granting of visas to Papuan asylum seekers.
There were no reports of violence outside the heavily guarded mission,
which sits on a busy road in the capital's downtown.
The protest is the first of its kind since Indonesia on Friday angrily
recalled its ambassador from Canberra over the visa decision.
About 200 people from two nationalist political parties carried banners and
chanted slogans outside the embassy, calling on Canberra to revoke the
temporary visas granted to 42 Papuan asylum seekers.
"Go to hell Australia!" read one banner.
"Papua is part of Indonesia," said rally organiser Tri Yulianto. "By giving
visa to these Papuans, it means Australia supports the separatists."
The 36 adults and seven children, who spent five days at sea before landing
on a remote beach at Cape York in January, accused the Indonesian military
of conducting genocide in their homeland while putting down a separatist
movement.
Meanwhile Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Australia will do what it
can to ensure its good relationship with Indonesia continues.
In parliament, Mr Downer said while Indonesia's decision to withdraw its
ambassador from Canberra was regrettable, the government valued the
friendship and cooperation it had with Indonesia.
"That cooperation is in our mutual interest to combat terrorism, to help
deal with illegal fishing, to help deal with people smugglers and so the
list goes on," he said.
"I think it is important that it is recognised as being in both of our
interests to achieve those things and we will do what we can to ensure that
that close friendship continues."
Mr Downer said the government was committed to a deep and abiding relationship.
He reiterated that the decision to grant the visas was made by the
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs officials, in
accordance with Australian and international laws.
"This in no way means that Australia has changed its policy or its approach
to the question of the province of Papua," Mr Downer said.
"We recognise Indonesian sovereignty over the province of Papua, we do not
support any secessionist movements or attempts of other kinds to achieve
separation from Indonesia in Papua."
Mr Downer credited Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the
good work in negotiating peace in Aceh and said he hoped for similar
success in Papua.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/060309/2/y6bc.html
================================
5. Refugee row threatens prisoner exchange
================================
Yahoo News/AAP
Saturday March 25, 10:32 PM
A prisoner exchange program in which Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine
could serve jail time in Australia is under threat.
The Australian government's decision to grant temporary protection visas to
42 Papuans this week has strained relations between Canberra and Jakarta.
Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia, Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb,
and Nationalist politicians have called for punitive sanctions against
Australia and a cut in military ties.
Now Nationalist MP Djoko Susilo has called for a halt in negotiations to
establish a prisoner exchange between Indonesia and Australia.
There had been hopes Corby and the Bali Nine could serve some of their
sentences for drug smuggling in Australia after a time in their Bali jail,
if the exchange protocol was created.
But Djoko Susilo, angered by Australia's decision to grant the Papuans
visas, wants the exchange program shelved.
"We will stop the governments [of Indonesia and Australia] trying to swap
prisoners," Djoko Susilo is quoted in Fairfax newspapers as saying.
"We are trying not to hurt the Australian people, but this is the lowest
level [between] Indonesia and Australia and we want more action taken by
our government against yours.
"The prisoners will stay in Indonesia - they won't do their prison time in
Australia now."
Temporary protection visas have been given to 42 of the 43 Papuans who
arrived on Cape York in January. The case of the 43rd asylum seeker will be
determined soon, immigration officials say.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/060325/2/ycxf.html
===================================================
6. Indonesia considers banning Australian senator over Papua violence
===================================================
Radio New Zealand International
Posted at 07:05 on 22 March, 2006 UTC
Indonesia’s defence minister wants to blacklist Australian Greens Senator
Kerry Nettle from travelling to Papua, saying her presence could stir more
violence in the restive province.
The senator had hoped to go to Papua next month to assess the security
situation following clashes last week in which as many as four Indonesian
police officers and an air force officer were bludgeoned to death by
demonstrators.
But the Koran Tempo daily reports that the Indonesian Defence Minister
Juwono Sudarsono has asked the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Department to
stop the visit taking place.
He says Senator Nettle, who has visited the 43 Papuan asylum seekers on
Christmas Island, would try and embarrass Indonesia over human rights.
The call for a blacklist came a day after Indonesia’s intelligence chief,
Major-General Syamsir Siregar, accused Australian-backed aid groups of
fomenting last week’s protests against the US-owned Freeport mine.
An advisor with Mr Sudarsono, Bonnie Leonard, is reported as saying the
minister believes Senator Nettle is indirectly linked to the violence.
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=22976
===============================
7. Visa huff shows contempt for law: Brown
===============================
ABC NEWS ONLINE
Saturday, March 25, 2006. 2:00pm (AEDT)
Greens Senator Bob Brown says the Indonesian Government's reaction to
Australia's treatment of 42 asylum seekers from West Papua shows complete
disdain for international law.
The asylum seekers, who arrived by boat in January, will be relocated to
Melbourne from the Christmas Island detention centre after being granted
temporary visas.
Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia in protest at the
decision, accusing Australia of taking sides in the push for the Indonesian
province to become independent.
Senator Brown wants the Government to do just that.
He says there are currently about 1,000 students in hiding in Papua.
"[They are] terrorised by the Indonesian troops and the death toll from
last week's crackdown on people who are protesting for their rights in West
Papua," he said.
"It's time that this Government had the gumption to take the matter of the
right of the West Papuans to an act of self determination to the United
Nations."
He compares the situation in the province to the plight of Iraqis under
Saddam Hussein.
"The Howard Government was prepared to take part in the Bush invasion of
Iraq for liberty and democracy," Senator Brown said.
"But when it comes to our neighbours, turns its back on liberty and democracy.
"The West Papuans have a right to self determination, as do the East
Timorese, and [Foreign Affairs Minister] Alexander Downer should be
standing up for that right."
Labor support
The Federal Opposition says Mr Downer has its full support over the asylum
seekers' treatment.
Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, says the decision to grant
the group visas has been made consistently with Australian law, and he
urges the Indonesian Government to prevent relations deteriorating further.
"Indonesia's decision to withdraw its ambassador is regrettable and I hope
diplomacy can now bring this relationship back together again," he said.
"The Australia-Indonesia relationship is important for both countries."
Mr Rudd says the Indonesian Government should consider cases where
Australia has not agreed with their decisions, before reacting dramatically
to the latest decision.
He says Indonesia has to learn how to cope with differences of opinion.
"We've had to handle the very light sentence given to Abu Bakar Bashir - a
person responsible for the mass murder of Australians in Bali not long
ago," he said.
"But we've been able to put that into the context of the overall
relationship, which is important for both governments."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1600769.htm
=======================
8. Lost at sea in political storm
=======================
The Australian
By Carmel Egan
March 25, 2006
RELYING on nothing more than the word of a good friend and their faith in
God, the West Papuan 43 turned their dugout canoe south and made for Australia.
It was January 13 and the five families of 37 adults and six children were
heading, literally and politically, into a storm.
Instead of the six to eight hours they had been told it would take to cross
from the southernmost point of Irian Jaya to Weipa on the tip of Cape York,
the group were lost at sea for four days.
They had originally left from Jayapura on the north coast of Irian Jaya,
and used the canoe, powered by an outboard motor, to hop between coastal
villages and towns until they reached Merauke.
It was there they were told Australia was just hours away.
"Nobody helped us," said Henock Nawiea, a spokesman for 10 of the group now
receiving medical treatment in Perth.
"Our friend, an activist in Merauke, he said it would be six to eight hours.
"We lost the way in the middle of the ocean and we were in the ocean four
days after that, because we don't know the way from Merauke to Australia
and there was bad weather and we didn't bring our food and drink.
"We were thirsty and hungry and very scared and it make us weak and we had
some people sick."
The canoe had been made by the father of Herman Wainggai, who organised the
group's flight.
Mr Wainggai, who remains on Christmas Island with 33 of the group, last
night thanked the Australian Government for accepting their plea for asylum.
"We wish to express our respectful thanks for this decision to the
Australian Government, the Department of Immigration and also I wish to
thank the people of Australia who have helped and welcomed us.
The Indonesian Government has said none of the 43 were being persecuted or
sought by authorities when they left Irian Jaya and their safety was
guaranteed if they return.
But the group last night rejected the assurances saying "Indonesian talk"
was not to be trusted. Mr Nawiea claimed that 300 West Papuan villagers who
fled to Papua New Guinea in 2002 were encouraged to return with promises of
improved welfare and housing, only to be imprisoned, tortured or killed.
"We don't want to go back. We know the Indonesian talk," he said.
Mr Nawiea, an IT student and political activist, said he was imprisoned and
beaten in Timika, on the central south coast, for several days in 2002
before fleeing into the mountains and hiding from the authorities.
"My situation in West Papua was unsafe," he said. "Sometimes they come
looking for me and some of my friends, so our life there was very
uncomfortable.
"In Timika people not live proper like other people, like in Java. They
can't talk in Timika. They get angry to us if we make demonstrations."
Mr Nawiea brought his 21-year-old sister and 12-year-old nephew with him to
Australia. The boy's father, who is active in the West Papua freedom
movement, has been missing for about a week in Jayapura.
The West Papua 43 are expected to be transferred from detention on
Christmas Island to freedom in Melbourne next week.
Those in Perth are being treated for symptoms of TB, stomach complaints and
one for a leg injury. But the group remains fearful for the safety of their
friends and families and for the future of the province under Indonesian rule.
"Many people are killed already and they are going to kill and torture many
of the people there," Mr Nawiea said.
Life in exile will require a lot of adjustment, according to Australian
West Papuan community matriarch Anto Rumwaropen.
"They will be very traumatised, especially the children," Ms Rumwaropen
said of the newest members of the 4000-strong Australian-West Papuan
community.
"I know what it is like to try to find somewhere to live away from the
oppression, away from the Indonesian military, but to find also a place
where you can continue the struggle for our country to be free," she said.
She was four years old when Indonesia began its takeover of West Papua on
May 1, 1963. At 20 when she fled with her political songwriter husband
Augustus and his reggae band, the Black Brothers, in 1979.
Lawyers representing the group expect the 43rd member to be granted asylum
in the coming weeks.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18594791%255E601,00.html
-||+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
-|| This is the Project SafeCom Newsletter - published since 2001
-|| as the 'Project SafeCom Daily News and Updates'.
-||
-|| To subscribe to this Newsletter or to manage your subscription, visit
-|| http://www.safecom.org.au/newsletter-subscribe.htm
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