Written evidence submitted by Oxford Papuan
Rights Campaign
Further to our previous correspondence on the
issue of a Review of the UN's conduct relating to the 1969 Act
of "Free" Choice, I am pleased to enclose a Hansard
report (13.12.04) together with our Press Release, which reveal
a significant step forward in the West Papuans' 40 year struggle
for genuine self-determination which has taken place here in Britain.
As you will see, Baroness Symons agreed with
the Bishop of Oxford that the Papuans were "largely coerced
into declaring for inclusion in Indonesia". So far as we
are aware, this is the first time since the Act of "Free"
Choice took place 35 years ago that a major country has admitted
publicly that the Papuan people have been denied their internationally
recognised right to self-determination. I am proud that it is
our own Labour Government that has taken this vitally important
step forward towards a peaceful arid just resolution to the West
Papua conflict.
The United Kingdom has always recognised that
under international law, the people of West Papua are entitled
to the fundamental human right of self-determination. Now that
the UK has admitted that the Papuan people were not genuinely
allowed to exercise that right in 1969 ("coercing" participants
to vote in a particular way is clearly illegal under international
law), the obvious next step is for a new referendum to be held
under the auspices of the UN which will this time be free and
fair and one person one vote.
I would be very grateful if you could let me
know whether, as Chairman of the FAC, you are able to ask the
Government whether the UK, together with our EU partners, will
now support a new referendum for the people of West Papua? If
this is not possible, would you be prepared to raise this in your
personal capacity as a Member of Parliament?
I really appreciate you contacting me by phone
via your PA, to ask us to submit a Memorandum to the Foreign Affairs
Committee regarding human rights abuses in West Papua. I hope
you and the rest of the FAC found the Memorandum which I submitted
together with my Tapol (the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign) colleagues
useful and informative.
I was interested to attend the Oral Evidence
given to the Committee by the Foreign Office Minister, Bill Rammell
MP, yesterday. Whilst the questioning was of course helpful as
an indication of the Government's overall commitment to human
rights, I was disappointed that there was insufficient time to
question the Minister about the ongoing serious human rights abuses
by the Indonesian military against civilians in West Papua.
I realise of course that yesterday's Oral Evidence
session is only a small part of the overall work of the FAC in
relation to human rights. I would therefore be very grateful if
you could let me know whether you and the FAC are able to raise
the human rights situation in West Papua (as set out in our Memorandum)
[21]with
the Government in other ways.
With best wishes and thanks for the attention
you are giving to West Papua.
Richard Samuelson
Oxford Papuan Rights Campaign
12 January 2004
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