NZ MPs listening to Papuan concerns

Transcript

A New Zealand Labour party MP says the country must engage with Indonesia more on growing concerns about the treatment of West Papuans.

Carmel Sepuloni was one of around ten MPs who met with the visiting secretary-general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Octo Mote last night in Wellington.

Mr Mote discussed what he describes as growing regional support for international recognition of West Papuans' concerns with Indonesian rule.

Ms Sepuloni says New Zealand's relationship with Indonesia shouldn't preclude it pushing for West Papuans to have their rights adhered to and to be treated fairly by Indonesian authorities.

CARMEL SEPULONI: Yeah I think it is something that New Zealand has to take seriously and we need to be involved in the conversations that are happening as our West Papuan leaders have said. The Pacific leaders forum and the Pacific, the Small Island States are really important in terms of progressing this issue and New Zealand needs to be part of that dialogue. So at every level whether you are a backbench MP like me, an opposition MP or whether you are a government minister I think we should all actually be engaged with this and not scared to talk about it.

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL: Because we have a growing relationship with Indonesia don't we, and that is very important in the scheme of things. Do you think that is at risk if we talk about West Papua with them?

CS: Well I would hope not. You know this is about making sure that, you know, West Papuans are treated fairly and that their human rights are adhered to and so that shouldn't undermine our relationship with Indonesia.

RNZI: There is a trade a huge trade relationship and that could be at risk?

CS: We shouldn't be scared to talk about human rights and making sure that people are treated fairly internationally because of trade concerns. That shouldn't even be at the forefront of our minds.

RNZI: Is there a way we can help on the ground?

CS: I think being engaged in the dialogue is very important for a start and we need to be encouraging our other small island states to be engaged in that conversation. Once the Pacific is seen to be behind West Papua then that increases the power that West Papuans have.

RNZI: Do you think there is some scope for Pacific parliamentarians across a number of countries and engaging on the Papua issue?

CS: Yeah and we can't necessarily force anyone's hand over seas but what we can do is I think commit as Pacific parliamentarians here um not just Pacific parliamentarians but our non- Pacific ones that believe in this issue and want to be part of effecting change. We can be part of actually growing that group here and actually trying to seek out opportunities to have the discussions that need to be had. And if the parliamentary friendship group is one of those groups then lets start there. You know we are constantly talking to other Pacific leaders that are coming to New Zealand, we are talking to Pacific leaders that are here, we are talking to each other so let's put on the agenda West Papua and ensure that that is part of the discussion that is being had.