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MISNA - Missionary Service News Agency, 3/4/2003 20:01

Indonesia

Franciscans To UN: "Stop All Efforts To Create Paramilitary Groups In Papua"

Peace/Justice, Brief

Franciscans International (FI) today, delivered a statement before the UN Commission on Human Rights, urging the Government of Indonesia to: "stop at once" all efforts to create paramilitary groups in Papua, open a political dialogue on history of Papuan integration, restore the national and international legal standards, safeguard freedom of expression and constructively join in peace efforts.

The statement, delivered by Br. Theo van den Broek OFM, a Franciscan friar from Indonesia and Director of the Office for Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Jayapura, detailed the Papuan people's "collective memory of 40 years of oppression and denial of their human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms by the Government of Indonesia," including: Denial their right of self-determination since the 1960s, Racial and ethnic discrimination, their treatment as a 'primitive' people, Exploitation and expropriation of ancestral lands through the imposition of development policies, detention, torture and extrajudicial killings for political beliefs and opinions expressed, and absence of justice for victims of abuses and impunity.

Additionally, FI called attention to the "disturbing role" of the military in Papua, citing the ineffective control of civilian authorities, the organizing and training of paramilitary groups and the combination of economic interests with military objectives.

In 1969, West Papua officially became a province of Indonesia. Since then, Papuans have had their natural resources and wealth extracted by Indonesians and transnational corporations, with very few of the proceeds benefiting local people. [BP]

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