Human Rights, West Papua — United Nations Secretary-General's Statement
CATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he support United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's statement regarding human rights in West Papua that "we will do all to ensure that people in West Papua, their human rights will be respected"?
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice): on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs: We support the Secretary-General's call for the human rights of the people of West Papua to be respected. Human rights are universal and indivisible. That is one of the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted in 1948.
Catherine Delahunty: What actions, if any, has he taken to condemn the Indonesian Government for the widespread human rights abuses in West Papua, which were brought to light last year in videos showing torture?
Hon SIMON POWER: The incidents that the member refers to, which I believe are the unlawful detention and torture of individuals, were a breach of international law, and, in particular, the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New Zealand plays a particular role in continuing to raise human rights issues with the Indonesian Government in that regard. The advice I have is that those involved in the ill-treatment of the West Papuans were eventually dealt with by the courts.
Catherine Delahunty: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister stated a position but he did not say what actions he has taken to condemn those particular acts of torture—those particular ones.
Hon SIMON POWER: I think if the member reviews the Hansard, she will find that I said that New Zealand continues to raise human rights issues with the Indonesian Government.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he urge his colleagues in Cabinet to halt plans to strengthen bilateral defence arrangements with Indonesia considering the 10-month sentences given to Indonesian soldiers found guilty of torturing indigenous West Papuan citizens by burning their genitals?
Hon SIMON POWER: No.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he urge his colleague the Minister of Defence to reconsider current plans to visit Indonesia and instigate reciprocal high-level visits, given Indonesian President Yudhoyono's comments that the torture of West Papuan citizens is only a minor incident?
Hon SIMON POWER: In respect of the first part of that question, no.
Catherine Delahunty: What is his response to the call this week from West Papuan representatives that New Zealand should act as a facilitator between Indonesia and representatives of West Papua in peace talks?
Hon SIMON POWER: I am sorry, but I do not have enough information on hand to answer that question specifically. I am sure if the member puts the question down to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he would be happy to respond to it.
Catherine Delahunty: Does he agree with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's view expressed yesterday that the issue of Papuan self-government "should … be discussed at the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations General Assembly."?
Hon SIMON POWER: I have not seen those particular comments from Ban Ki-moon, but I know that with any issues that the New Zealand Government has with matters relating to West Papua, the opportunity will arise in 2012, I understand, as part of the universal periodic review of Indonesia. New Zealand will have the opportunity at that time to ask questions that may cover some of the matters the member has raised.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he join Amnesty International in asking for the release of West Papuans imprisoned simply for raising the Papuan nationalist morning star flag?
Hon SIMON POWER: I do not have any advice with me today on the specific issue of the matters raised by Amnesty International, and I would be reluctant to commit to the House without that information to hand.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table from the EngageMedia website on 21 November 2010 the testimony of West Papuan farmer Tunaliwor Kiwo, recounting the detail of his torture by Indonesia soldiers.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table this document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table a photograph from the westpapuaunite channel on YouTube from 25 October 2010 of a West Papuan farmer being tortured, while the soldier says—
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table a photograph from the AlJazeeraEnglish channel on YouTube from 18 October 2010 of a Papuan farmer having his genitals burnt.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Is there objection? There is objection because it is on the website. There is objection to that document being tabled.
Source; http://www.greens.org.nzhttp://www.greens.org.nz
CATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he support United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's statement regarding human rights in West Papua that "we will do all to ensure that people in West Papua, their human rights will be respected"?
What actions, if any, has he taken to condemn the Indonesian Government for the widespread human rights abuses in West Papua, which were brought to light last year in videos showing torture?
Catherine Delahunty: What actions, if any, has he taken to condemn the Indonesian Government for the widespread human rights abuses in West Papua, which were brought to light last year in videos showing torture?
Hon SIMON POWER: The incidents that the member refers to, which I believe are the unlawful detention and torture of individuals, were a breach of international law, and, in particular, the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New Zealand plays a particular role in continuing to raise human rights issues with the Indonesian Government in that regard. The advice I have is that those involved in the ill-treatment of the West Papuans were eventually dealt with by the courts.
Catherine Delahunty: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister stated a position but he did not say what actions he has taken to condemn those particular acts of torture—those particular ones.
Hon SIMON POWER: I think if the member reviews the Hansard, she will find that I said that New Zealand continues to raise human rights issues with the Indonesian Government.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he urge his colleagues in Cabinet to halt plans to strengthen bilateral defence arrangements with Indonesia considering the 10-month sentences given to Indonesian soldiers found guilty of torturing indigenous West Papuan citizens by burning their genitals?
Hon SIMON POWER: No.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he urge his colleague the Minister of Defence to reconsider current plans to visit Indonesia and instigate reciprocal high-level visits, given Indonesian President Yudhoyono's comments that the torture of West Papuan citizens is only a minor incident?
Hon SIMON POWER: In respect of the first part of that question, no.
Catherine Delahunty: What is his response to the call this week from West Papuan representatives that New Zealand should act as a facilitator between Indonesia and representatives of West Papua in peace talks?
Hon SIMON POWER: I am sorry, but I do not have enough information on hand to answer that question specifically. I am sure if the member puts the question down to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he would be happy to respond to it.
Catherine Delahunty: Does he agree with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's view expressed yesterday that the issue of Papuan self-government "should … be discussed at the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations General Assembly."?
Hon SIMON POWER: I have not seen those particular comments from Ban Ki-moon, but I know that with any issues that the New Zealand Government has with matters relating to West Papua, the opportunity will arise in 2012, I understand, as part of the universal periodic review of Indonesia. New Zealand will have the opportunity at that time to ask questions that may cover some of the matters the member has raised.
Catherine Delahunty: Will he join Amnesty International in asking for the release of West Papuans imprisoned simply for raising the Papuan nationalist morning star flag?
Hon SIMON POWER: I do not have any advice with me today on the specific issue of the matters raised by Amnesty International, and I would be reluctant to commit to the House without that information to hand.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table from the EngageMedia website on 21 November 2010 the testimony of West Papuan farmer Tunaliwor Kiwo, recounting the detail of his torture by Indonesia soldiers.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table this document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table a photograph from the westpapuaunite channel on YouTube from 25 October 2010 of a West Papuan farmer being tortured, while the soldier says—
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.
Catherine Delahunty: I seek leave to table a photograph from the AlJazeeraEnglish channel on YouTube from 18 October 2010 of a Papuan farmer having his genitals burnt.
Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Is there objection? There is objection because it is on the website. There is objection to that document being tabled.
Source; http://www.greens.org.nzhttp://www.greens.org.nz
