Labor considers the promotion of universal human rights to be a core foreign policy objective that cannot be traded off against other diplomatic and economic goals.

Respect for human rights—the dignity and welfare of our fellow humans—is naturally our first and most immediate response to reports of human rights abuses. However, Labor also believes that respect for human rights is an important consideration in international relations. Respect for human rights contributes to domestic peace and stability and economic prosperity. This in turn contributes to the maintenance of international security.

In this regard, I have been greatly concerned, as others have, by reports from church groups and human rights organisations about incidents of police and military brutality in the Indonesian province of West Papua. Most disturbing are the reports of the Indonesian army’s involvement in the murder of Papuan independence leader Theys Eluay in 2001. In particular, I draw the attention of the House to a report that was submitted to the UN Economic and Social Council on 9 March this year by Franciscans International on behalf of a number of respected and credible church groups, including the Catholic Institute for International Relations, the Protestant Church in Germany, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, and the World Council of Churches. That report noted that human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and displacement, were continuing in Papua.

There is no doubt that during the bad old days of the Suharto government the Papuan people were subjected to gross violations of their human rights. In addition to military brutality and political oppression, the province was neglected by Jakarta, with the Papuans lagging behind the rest of the country by virtually every standard of human development—infant mortality, literacy and life expectancy. The fall of the Suharto government and the subsequent election of President Wahid in 2000 gave rise to real optimism that a new era in Papua would unfold. It is important to acknowledge that there have been some positive developments, including the introduction of a special autonomy law granting Papuans political freedoms and autonomy. But the fact remains that we continue to receive disturbing reports of human rights abuses in Papua. Labor are very concerned about these reports. It is our view that a failure to address ongoing human rights concerns will only serve to undermine Indonesian authority in the province.

Labor are also very disappointed at the failure to fully implement the law, which was passed by the Indonesian parliament in 2002. We have made our concerns clear to the Indonesian government and will continue to do so. The Leader of the Opposition and the shadow foreign minister, Kevin Rudd, took the opportunity provided by the recent visit to Australia by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to raise their concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua and the failure to implement the special autonomy law. Shadow minister Rudd made it clear when he said:

... when it comes to human rights abuses or allegations of human rights abuses in Papua ... we have an expectation that the government in Jakarta will attend to those matters ... at a thorough level.

Still, it is clear from reports recently made public, including Genocide in West Papua?—and the question mark following this title raises legitimate questions about whether it is the right term to use here; we do not think that it is—that the situation is of concern. That particular report, from the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies, shows that the situation in West Papua continues to deteriorate and is very serious. Health conditions in some areas are very poor. The fact that special autonomy has not reached grassroots levels means there remain continuing infringements of people’s rights. This is serious. So it is essential that this parliament provide encouragement to the Indonesian government to speedily advance those arrangements identified as necessary for the implementation of the special autonomy law.

We have welcomed President Yudhoyono’s success in negotiating a peace agreement in Aceh. His decision to grasp the opportunity provided in the wake of the tsunami to rebuild not just the bricks and mortar of the province but also civil society is acknowledged. It is now time for similar energies and commitment to be brought to bear for the people of West Papua.