Fw: AUSTRALIA ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY OVER WEST PAPUA INDEPENDENCE

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From SBS News (http://www.sbs.com.au/).  SBS is a state owned "ethnic"
broadcasting network in Australia.

AUSTRALIA ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY OVER WEST PAPUA INDEPENDENCE

Vanuatu has accused Australia of hypocrisy for supporting independence for
East Timor, but not for the nearby Indonesian province of West Papua. The
Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Barak Sope, says he will call for
self-determination for West Papua when he addresses the United Nations
General Assembly this week.

The West Papuan independence movement has remained active since before the
territory was integrated into Indonesia in 1969 and renamed Irian Jaya.
Encouraged by East Timor`s move to nationhood, the Free Papua Movement, or
OPM, unilaterally declared West Papua independent three months ago.
Vanuatu`s PM says it`s now time for a UN-supervised ballot on
self-determination for the western half of the island of New Guinea.

BARAK SOPE, PRIME MINISTER OF VANUATU: What I would like to see is what the
UN should have done, they should have the act of free choice, like what
happened in East Timor.

This puts Vanuatu at odds with Australia, which - concerned about the
potential disintegration of Indonesia - supports West Papua remaining part
of the republic.

JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER: We agree with the Indonesian Government about
the place of West Papua in the Indonesian Republic.

Barak Sope says Indonesia has held on to West Papua only with military
might and he`s scornful of Australia`s position.

BARAK SOPE: I think it`s hypocritical to say that, because if you support
democracy, then it ought to be democracy, not half military.

Vanuatu is seeking the support of other Pacific nations in its campaign for
an independent West Papua.