West Papua Supporters to target Pacific Islands Forum
Media Release: West Papua Supporters to target Pacific Islands Forum who must address the situation of a people threatened with genocide.
The participants at the successful weekend seminar "West Papua: the Hidden Pacific Conflict" unanimously resolved to take the West Papua issue to the leaders of the Pacific Island Forum nations who will be meeting in Tonga in October.
The resolution calls for the Pacific Islands Forum to grant observer status to West Papuan representatives and for the Pacific Islands Forum to mount a fact-finding mission to visit West Papua.
Seminar speakers West Papuan Baptist leader Socratez Sofyan Yoman and Australian academic John Wing both emphasise that the people now believe that the word genocide is appropriate to their situation. West Papuans say that only this strong word reflects the direct and indirect threats to their survival as a people.
Media Release: West Papua Supporters to target Pacific Islands Forum who must address the situation of a people threatened with genocide.
The participants at the successful weekend seminar "West Papua: the Hidden Pacific Conflict" unanimously resolved to take the West Papua issue to the leaders of the Pacific Island Forum nations who will be meeting in Tonga in October.
The resolution calls for the Pacific Islands Forum to grant observer status to West Papuan representatives and for the Pacific Islands Forum to mount a fact-finding mission to visit West Papua.
Seminar speakers West Papuan Baptist leader Socratez Sofyan Yoman and Australian academic John Wing both emphasise that the people now believe that the word genocide is appropriate to their situation. West Papuans say that only this strong word reflects the direct and indirect threats to their survival as a people.
The seminar participants agreed that the indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua have been gravely disadvantaged by being left out of the Forum deliberations. They have many problems which are to some extent shared by their neighbours: environmental devastation, illegal logging and an epidemic of HIV/Aids. But what is worse the West Papuan people carry the additional burdens of living with ongoing military and intelligence operations as well as displacement from their traditional lands to make way for a continuous stream of new transmigrants.
The Forum has expressed concern about human rights abuses in West Papua in recent years, but was inexplicably silent on the issue in 2005. This year the plight of the Papuan people was highlighted by 43 asylum seekers who braved a dangerous sea journey to escape deadly persecution. The Forum leaders cannot continue to ignore this human tragedy on their doorstep.
Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman now begins a 3 week tour of Aotearoa and is available for interviews. His schedule is available.
For further information: Maire Leadbeater: 09-815-9000 or 0274 436 95
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Re: West Papua Supporters to target Pacific Islands Forum
It was an awesome, informative, impassioned talk he gave at the public meeting.
If you missed seeing Socratez in Auckland he is touring around the country for the next weeks. Really worthwhile seeing him, if you can.
* Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman's national speaking tour itinerary
* Tuesday, 22 August, Whangarei
- 'West Papua: the hidden Pacific conflict' public meeting at 7pm, Pat Irving Lounge, at the back of St John's Church Centre, 149 Kamo Rd, Kensington
* Thursday, 24 August, Tauranga
- 'West Papua: the hidden Pacific conflict', Pax Christi and Amnesty International, by courtesy of the Indonesian Human Rights Committee, West Papuan Human Rights Advocate and author, Socratez Sofyan Yoman,President Communion of Baptist Churches of West Papua - 7pm, at St Mary's Catholic Church, corner Cameron Road and Elizabeth Street
* Saturday, 26 August, Whanganui
- Pot-luck dinner followed by address by Socratez and conversation on the situation in West Papua, 6pm at the Baptist Central, 285 Wicksteed Street.
* Monday, 28 August, Wellington
- CID lunchtime forum with Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman who will be speaking about conditions under the Indonesian occupation, 12.30pm to 1.30pm at the Centre for Global Action, Level 2, James Smith Building, corner Manners St and Cuba St Malls; please RSVP, if you are planning on attending, to Kyi Kyi email info@cid.org.nz
- 'West Papua: Justice, Peace and Human Rights', a public talk by Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman, 5.30pm at the Wellington Central Baptist Church, 46 to 48 Boulcott Street; for more information contact Caritas email Leesa@caritas.org.nz
* Tuesday, 29 August, Wellington
- 'Focus on West Papua', Pacific Studies, Va'aomanu Pasifika presents a talk by Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman, from 12 noon to 1.30pm, Seminar Room, 6 Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington. All welcome, please bring your lunch. A printable poster advertising this meeting is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp290806.pdf
* Thursday, 31 August, Dunedin
- public meeting with Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman, 7.30pm at the Holy Name Parish Centre, 420 Great King Street.
* Monday, 4 September, Christchurch
1pm Seminar at Mcmillan Brown Centre, University of Canterbury - 'West Papua: the hidden Pacific conflict' public meeting, 7-30 pm at Knox Hall, 28 Bealey Avenue (corner Victoria Street and Bealey Ave)