Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Australian NGO raises concerns about Papuan protestors arrested in Indonesia

Posted at 07:21 on 17 March, 2008 UTC

The Australia West Papua Association has voiced concern about the

fallout from protests against the special autonomy law in Indonesia’s Papua region in recent weeks.

The organisation’s spokesman Joe Collins has called on Australia’s Foreign Minister to raise the human rights situation in Papua with Indonesia’s President.

This follows the arrest by Indonesian police of 13 Papuans last week in Manokwari for carrying the West Papuan lag, the Morning Star.

Two were later released, however Mr Collins says there is cause for concern for the safety of those still in custody.