Paras Indonesia, January 17 2007 @ 08:57 pm
TV advertising for human rights in West Papua
Posted by: Enrico Aditjondro
A massive new TV advertising campaign to promote human rights for West Papua
was launched in Sydney today by:
• John Dowd, former NSW Liberal/National Government Attorney-General
• Sister Susan Connolly
• Lt-Col Lance Collins (rtd.) former military intelligence officer and author
• Dr Clinton Fernandes, University of NSW
• Clemens Runawery, an exiled West Papuan visiting from PNG
• Sonia Vitro, East Timorese whose father was killed by the Indonesian military
• Eko Waluyo, Coordinator Indonesian Solidarity
• Ian Melrose, human rights advocate
The TV advertisements begin screening in capital cities around the country today and
will be followed in regional centres over the coming months. The TV advertisements
will also screen in selected neighbouring countries.
The advertising campaign highlights the dangers of the new security treaty between
Australia and Indonesia which was announced last November and is currently before
the Australian parliament.
"The yet to be ratified security treaty with Indonesia presents huge dangers for
democracy and human rights. The treaty effectively targets human rights advocates
concerned about West Papua and will encourage the Indonesian military to continue
its 40 year reign of terror in the troubled province. The Treaty will also justify
Australia's spy organisations' surveillance of Australians concerned with human rights
injustices," John Dowd said.
The TV advertisements feature West Papuan refugee, now PNG citizen, Clemens
Runawery. Clemens witnessed the Indonesian takeover over his country and in 1969
was arrested by Australian officials (at Indonesia's request) when attempting to travel
to United Nations to tell the world of his peoples' plight and of the failure of the UN to
conduct a fair election.
The advertising is being funded by Australian businessman Ian Melrose. Mr Melrose
previously funded an advertising campaign in support of East Timor's right to oil and
gas revenue in the Timor Sea after the Howard Government withdrew East Timor's
right to have the dispute heard by an independent UN arbitrator. Mr Melrose was also
involved in the successful campaign against the Howard Government's asylum seeker
legislation in 2006.
"The more that Australian people that find out about West Papua, the more they will
pressure their politicians to act. Presented with the facts, I am confident that
Australians will want to help our neighbours in West Papua," Mr Melrose said.
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