The situation in the
Indonesian province of West Papua is similar to East Timor just before
independence, a West Papuan activist has announced at a protest in Darwin
A
group of about 60 people have erected a temporary hut embassy outside
Parliament House, calling for West Papuan independence from Indonesia.
Jacob
Rumbiak, who said he was now in self-imposed exile after spending 10 years as a
political prisoner, said the situation in West Papua had worsened recently.
"In
April, Indonesia caught 447 of the student movement," he said.
"Last
month, after Indonesian president [Joko Widodo] released five political
prisoners, they caught another 500 of the student movement.
"Also,
they killed three people, including one secondary student."
A
Darwin Aboriginal elder taking part in the protest said Indigenous people there
are being subjected to rights abuses.
Larrakia
woman June Mills said the hut embassy was about giving a voice to the voiceless
and she called on governments around the world to intervene in the West Papua
situation.
"We
have laws in this country that protect indigenous rights and children's rights
... if the Government isn't going to stand up and do the right thing, well the
people of Australia are going to," Ms Mills said.
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