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| Photo: Participants of the Freedom Flotilla have travelled 5,000km on land. They are now due to set sail for Papua today. (freedomflotillawestpapua.org) |
Indonesian authorities have warned a group of
Australian activists not to sail to the country's disputed Papua region
today, or risk being intercepted and arrested.
The group, called
the Freedom Flotilla, is preparing three boats to sail from Cairns to
the Papuan provinces, to highlight the need for peace and stability in
the area.
The crew includes Aboriginal elders, West Papuan refugees, filmmakers and other activists.
But
the deputy chief of Papuan police, Paulus Waterpauw, says unauthorised
boat arrivals will be intercepted by the navy and likely be detained by
immigration authorities.
He says anybody in the group who has a criminal record or is on the country's wanted list will face arrest.
Indonesian
president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also issued a strong warning to
other countries, saying they should not violate Indonesia's sovereignty
and upset Indonesians.
He says the Papuan provinces are part of Indonesia and that should be respected.
Sumber : www.abc.net.au/news