The #MakeWestPapuaSafe campaign is being prepared in Australia. Actions were launched in Cairns in November and will roll out over this year. Our goal is to put pressure on the AFP to stop training the Indonesian special forces.
#MWPS helped persuade the ALP to adopt a motion pursuing evaluation of the effectiveness of programs run by the AFP. The non-partisan #MakeWestPapuaSafe campaign will use this motion to hold the ALP to account and to leverage greater change. We will continue to apply pressure on other political parties to take steps to stop training and arming the Indonesian police and military.
At the same time, we stay in close contact with both the West Papuan community in Australia and with leaders in communities overseas. The situation in Indonesia is volatile and you will have seen – even in the mainstream media – an increase in reports of abuse against ordinary people.
We have produced a video about the 2014 Paniai massacre. That 12 min film was released in December and events were held around Australia to remember the young people killed by security forces, and their grieving families left with no redress.