West Papua Information Kit

Refugees

Who

Refugees are people who have flead and feared returning to their nation on a well-founded fear of persecution for membership of a racial, ethnic, political, or social group. Refugees are forced from their countries by political strife, civil conflict or gross human rights abuse. There were an estimated 14.9 million refugees and over 22 million consider as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world in 2001.

Though there have been tens of thousands of refugees from West Papua in PNG for decades, PNG is in fear of Indonesia should it identify the West Papuan people as refugees for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Inside West Papua are entire communities who have been in hidding from the Indonesian military (TNI) and other militia for years and decades.

3 July 2008

West Papuan refugees in neighbouring PNG seek escape from indifference of Port Moresby.
West Papua Refugees camped at Apex Park Boroko, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea wish to raise the following concerns regarding the continued displacement of their families in Port Moresby.

2006 Australia Policy Online

REFUGEES West Papua's forgotten asylum seekers

July 2005

Fr. Neles Tebay :

"Beginning in August 2004 a fresh military operation has been conducted in the Puncak Jaya district. At least some 6,000 Papuans from 27 villages have taken refuge, and been starving, in the jungle; 15 people including 13 children died in a refuge camp. The whole region is closed off. Humanitarian workers are not allowed to visit the region.

Although no independent investigation has yet been conducted, some local and international human rights groups estimate that at least a hundred thousand Papuans have been killed by Indonesian security forces. Many other Papuans have been victims of torture, intimidation, and arbitrary detentions. Many Papuan women have been victims of sexual abuse. In every military operation, food gardens are also destroyed; domesticated pigs are killed; people?s houses and church buildings are burnt down; and Papuan men, women and children are massacred."

1995

Social Change At What Cost? Refugees
 

1962 Aug 18

8,000 seek asylum in Australian New Guinea from Indonesian rule.

1962 Aug 22

The Bishop Armidale, the Rt. Rev. J. S. Moyes, yesterday said that with the West New Guinea settlement, Australians were in an explosive situation which could affect areas and peoples beyond the limits of West New Guinea. . . . Questions for Government . . . (1) Will the Government give a clear and unequivocal undertaking that it will grant asylum without question to political refugees from West New Guinea? . . .

1969 May 16

Irian rebellion puts Australia on spot
. . . There have been a sharp increase in the number of these crossings since 1967 when the figure rose to 866. More than 300 have come across already this year. If they have genuine fears about returning they are allowed to stay, provided they move away from the border area and don't engage in "political activities."

1969 May 17

Soldiers are Hunting for Natives
Indonesian Army patrols are fanning out to the mountains and bushes around the high Wissel Lake region in the Central Highlands of West Irian to hunt down rebel tribesmen and bring them back to their villages, missionaries said in Jayapura yesterday.
The missionaries said the troops, mainly paracommandos were in firm control of he region. They said the town of Enarotali and some surrounding villages were deserted by the natives.

1969 May 23

Wounded native flees Papua from Indonesians
Canberra, Today. - A West Irian native shot by Indonesian police has fled across the border into Papua-New Guinea . . . The man whose arm was shattered is now recovering at Wewak Hospital on the northern coast of New Guinea. The department said Indonesian police were reported to have hit him with automatic fire as he fled. Four West Irianese helped him across the border to a border patrol post at Wutung on the West Sepik coast on Tuesday, then returned to West Irian.

1969 May 26

Two West Irianese who say Indonesian troops shot up their camp have reached a remote mission and triggered a border alarm in southern Papua. The Indonesians probably crossed into Australian territory to attack the camp.
250 People there.
The Administration was aware that a camp had been established in the border area and up to 250 West Irianese were living in it. The camp was thought to be just inside Australian territory. The two mean did not know what happened to their friends.