West Papua and the recent Asylum Seekers to Australia

I haven't posted here before, up until this point I was just helpful because I set it up, but I've been meaning to do this for a while.

If you haven't heard and investigated into what's been going on in West Papua since 1969 then it's time to do so. Here's a bunch of links to get you started ...

http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/centres/cpacs/WestPapuaGenocideRpt.05.pdf
http://www.fkmcpr.nl/?page=1&lang=2
http://www.zulenet.com/awpa/
http://lists.topica.com/lists/WestPapua/read?start=5745&sort=d

And then here's some news links from the BBC that will help you get up to speed on more recent events ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3815909.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4163300.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4676470.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4835788.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4837360.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4839762.stm

If you've gotten that far then as Ali G would say "respect".

This evening I left some feedback for the Immigration Department to encourage them in their recent decision to grant asylum to the West Papuans who recently arrived in Australia. Below is a link to their feedback page if you are interested in doing so yourself.

http://www.immi.gov.au/feedback/services/index.htm

Issues like these are never black and white, they are always messy, but that shouldn't stop us from getting involved and speaking out for others when we see injustice.

Update:
This is the response I received 3 days after giving feedback via this web address.

Dear Mr Jeffries

Thank you for your positive comments made via email on 28 March 2006 to the
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) about the recent
granting of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) to the 42 Indonesians from
West Papua who arrived in Australia in January.

As is always the case, these decisions were made by experienced
decision-makers, in accordance with international legal obligations and
Australian domestic law, on a case by case basis on the individual merits.

Thank you for taking the time to provide this positive feedback.

Regards
Kath Dunham
Director
Protection Delivery Section

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