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| Tracee Hutchinson asks what role an Australian Government would have in the move towards West Papua's independence. |
Democratic Labour Party Senator John Madigan. (Credit: AAP)
Democratic Labour Party Senator John Madigan has urged the Australian
Government to not turn a blind eye to Indonesia's treatment of the
indigenous population of Papua province.
Foreign Minister Julie
Bishop this week signed a Code of Conduct agreement with Indonesia to
promote intelligence cooperation and iron out tension over Australian
spying activities against Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and his inner circle.
The agreement is hoped to repair Australia's relationship with Indonesia.
Senator
Madigan said the Government should not forget the situation in West
Papua, which is facing a conflict similar to the one in East Timor.
"I
think we need to learn from past mistakes – the Balibo Five, the
annexation of East Timor – the situation that we have in West Papua [is]
that we want to see clear, transparent, democratic government," Senator
Madigan said.
Two French journalists were jailed this month by Indonesian authorities for not obtaining the correct visa.
Local police had raised concerns the journalists' activities could "destabilise" Papua.
Earlier this month, five separatist rebels were shot dead in clashes with Indonesia's military.
"We've got problems on our own doorstep and yet they don't seem to get a mention," Senator Madigan said.
"I
realise, as do the majority of Australians, that we want to develop
good relations with Indonesia, but any relationship is based on being
able to speak in a robust and truthful manner, otherwise it's a flawed
relationship."
The triumph of Indonesia's president-elect Joko
Widodo in July's election has raised hopes of improving democracy in the
archipelago state, but Senator Madigan said the West Papua situation
shows Indonesia still has a way to go.
"Indonesia is on the road
to becoming a more vibrant democracy and all Australians would support
that, but to become a democracy, you've got to have transparency, and we
have ongoing reports that keep coming up regularly of atrocities
there," he said.
"We all know the Indonesian nation is a huge,
very diverse group of islands and Indonesia, as all governments, has its
challenges but we do need to encourage the Indonesian government to act
responsibly fairly to all of their people.
"The place I believe
we can have the greatest influence in world affairs is initially in our
own backyard ... We're talking about people, we're talking about
people's lives and I won't be complicit by my silence."
Madigan pushes issue with fellow crossbenchers
Senator
Madigan has been raising awareness of the West Papuan conflict with
fellow crossbench senators who hold the balance of power in the Senate.
"[Independent
senator] Nick Xenophon and I often speak about it – we've had numerous
conversations on this issue. I've mentioned it to another of my fellow
crossbench senators," he said.
"I think that it's a process of education, it's a process of having calm discussion about this issue, and it needs to happen.
"I
have raised the issue of West Papua on numerous occasions in the
Parliament in the past three years and I will continue to do so for
however long I'm here, until such time as we get some real results for
these people."