New Zealand parliament calls for journalist access in West Papua
August 1, 2014
We are very happy to report that history was made yesterday as the New Zealand Parliament officially passed a motion calling for full journalist access and media freedom in West Papua.
A video of the parliament motion be seen can here
Catherine Delahunty previously speaking at parliament in support of a Free West Papua
The motion itself
The Indonesian government still continues to ban foreign journalists from entering West Papua and forbids Papuan journalists from reporting on the real situation but yesterday on 31st July, Catherine Delahunty MP in the presence of the Prime Minister put forward the historic motion to call for media freedom in West Papua.
She said: “I move that this House call upon the new President of Indonesia to commit to genuine media freedom in West Papua including the right of local and international journalists to report on the political situation there without risk of imprisonment or harassment by the Indonesian state.”
The motion was passed with no opposition to it and now means that the New Zealand government has a national as well as moral obligation to call upon the Indonesian government to allow media freedom and international journalist access in West Papua.
Free West Papua Campaign response
We are extremely happy that that government of New Zealand has taken this honorable decision to call upon Indonesia to finally let journalists into West Papua and report on what is really happening.
By banning journalists from reporting, the Indonesian government is proving to the world that they have something to hide in occupied West Papua and so yesterday was an important milestone on the recognition of the problems in West Papua and of Indonesia’s cover-up.
Photo: Mana Party leader Hone Harawira and Labour MP Maryan Street join Free West Papua Campaign founder Benny Wenda, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson and Catherine Delahunty on New Zealand’s parliament’s steps in 2013
With enough of such pressure from foreign governments and from people around the world, the Indonesian government will open the doors of silence and international journalists will begin to report about the genocide and illegal occupation in West Papua.
This is an incredibly significant step on the road to freedom for West Papua as when international media organisations begin to broadcast about the genocide, it will have a very strong effect on educating the world about the plight of the Papuan people.
You can also help to support journalist access and media freedom by signing this petition calling for international journalists to be allowed into West Papua.
We would like to give our sincerest thanks to the New Zealand Parliament for passing this extremely important motion and we would also like to thank Mrs. Catherine Delahunty for all her many years of strong resolve in helping West Papua to be free including putting forward and winning this motion to ensure a solid national stance towards helping the West Papuan people.
Thank you all very much
All across New Zealand, people are rising up to support their neighbors in West Papua.
Take Action
Sign the Avaaz petition calling for journalists to be allowed into West Papua »
Sign the new petition released by the global campaigning community Avaaz calling on the Indonesian President to allow foreign journalists into West Papua.