Supporting West Papua

AWPA-SA is a local South Australian activist group supporting West Papuan Human Rights. We support the West Papuans in their right to self determination to decide their own future, a right that has been denied them since Indonesia invaded their country.

West Papua is an extremely rich country. It has vast reserves of Copper and gold, oil and gas, large areas of virgin hardwood forests except most of the wealth is taken out of the country and goes to the Indonesian Government. Papua is one of the poorest areas in Indonesia where most of the people live at subsistence level with appalling health, welfare and education problems. Currently there are around 30,000 Indonesian troops stationed in the country. There is no open and free access to the country.

Our aims are to raise awareness of the conditions of the West Papuan people We produce a quarterly newsletter, hold various activities, lobby Governments, fundraising for projects in West Papua and support West Papuan refugees in Australia.

AWPA-SA is part of a coalition of West Papuan support groups around the country and the world.

(For more information, see Current Issues and Act of No Choice.)

AWPA Activities

Our activities include...

• Information stalls at community events and the WOMADelaide festival.
• Cultural dinners with West Papuan singers and dancers.
• Photo exhibitions.
• Raising funds through dinners, Quiz nights and other activities to fund human rights investigations in West Papua and support HIV/AIDs projects inside the country.
• Writing submissions to Government and the press.
• Monitoring the Human rights situation in West Papua very closely and reporting on these activities.

There are often major Human rights violations where Papuans are injured or killed. In 2008 many in the highlands died of Cholera.

How to contact AWPA-SA

Click here to join our email list, or click here to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive emails from our list.

Click here to download or print a membership/donation form.

Phone... Secretary: President:	Dave Arkins T: 08 83454480 (Int: +618 83454480) Andrew Derrington T: 08 83401847 (Int: +618 83401847)
E-mail:	info@awpa-sa.org.au
Post:	AWPA-SA PO Box 29 KILKENNY SA 5009 Australia
Payments:	Cheques can be sent to our postal address, or use the following details for a deposit or direct credit to our account: AWPA-SA BankSA, BSB: 105 116 Account No: 059634740

Brief historical background

In 1883 the island of New Guinea was partitioned by three Western powers, the Dutch claiming the western half, while the Germans and British divided the eastern half into German New Guinea and British Papua.

The Republic of Indonesia was created in 1949 when The Netherlands granted independence to the colonised peoples of the former Dutch East Indies. West New Guinea however, due to its distinct Melanesian population and cultural characteristics, was retained as a colony by the Dutch and during the 1950s the Dutch government prepared the territory for independence. President Sukarno maintained Indonesia's claim to all former territory of the Dutch. When his demands were not met armed conflict ensued from 1962.

Under pressure from the United States, in August 1962 an agreement was concluded between the Netherlands and Indonesia. The Dutch were to leave West New Guinea and transfer sovereignty to UNTEA (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority), for a period of six years until a national vote was conducted to determine Papuan preferences.>

Almost immediately Indonesia took over the administration from UNTEA. In a sham referendum held in 1969, hand picked electors were coerced into choosing to "remain with Indonesia". (see Act of No Choice)

Links and Resources

To find out more about West Papua

Australian links

AWPA Sydney produce a monthly news summary or if you are really keen you can subscribe (free) for daily news
Go to www.zulenet.com/awpa
AWPA Brisbane is a locally based West Papuan support group
Go to www.geocities.com/awpab
AWPA WA is also a locally based support group in Western Australia
Go to www.awpawa.org
National website, supported by AWPA groups around Australia
Go to www.freewestpapua.com.au (based in Melbourne)

There are support groups in most States but not all have websites. Please contact info@awpa-sa.org.au if you are looking for a local group

The site that has it all (or 99.9%)

World wide web virtual library for Papua. This site contains Government, regional, environmental, health, photos, fauna, flora, university research and international support group sites - links to over 70 websites.
Go to www.papuaweb.org/vl

International

ETAN United States, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network produce a monthly newsletter gathering news from Inside West Papua and around the world. A strong lobby group inside the US. Go to www.etan.org
TAPOL UK based human rights organisation produces regular reports on West Papua. Go to www.tapol.gn.apc.org
Inside Indonesia an e-magazine produced in Australia with articles on development in Indonesia. Go to www.inside.indonesia.org