West Papua’s independence will again be pushed at Pacific Forum

Posted at 16:50 on 22 August, 2012 UTC

The New Zealand Indonesia Human Rights Committee says it will continue to lobby the Pacific Forum to push for West Papua’s independence.
A campaign for human rights and self-determination for West Papua began this week, with support from the ethical cosmetics brand, Lush.
Demonstrations are being held throughout stores in Australia and New Zealand, including hanging the Morning Star flag in shop windows.
Maire Leadbeater from the Indonesia Human Rights Committee says they will keep trying to get the Pacific Forum to stand up for the rights of West Papuans.

“Before Indonesia took control in the 60’s it was heading towards becoming part of the pacific community of nations, they still want to be part of the Pacific, it’s how they feel ethnically, culturally, geographically. So we always appeal to the forum. The last few years sadly, they’ve been deaf. It’s in the too hard basket for the more powerful nations in the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia and New Zealand, unfortunately the smaller nations who are more sympathetic and supportive, sometimes their voices just don’t get heard.”

Maire Leadbeater from the Indonesia Human Rights Committee in New Zealand.

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