West Paupan asylum seekers test relations between Canberra and Jakarta
On January 18, 43 West Papuans stepped onto Australian soil at Mapoon on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula. Amazingly, they had traversed 425 kilometres at sea in a 25-metre traditional dugout canoe fitted with an outboard motor. They were flying the West Papuan flag, outlawed by the Indonesian government and a banner, which read: “Save West Papua people soul from genocide intimidation and terrorist from military government of Indonesian. Also we West Papuan need freedom peace love and justice in our home land.’
On March 22, Cranberra announced that temporary visas have been granted to 42 of the 43 West Papuan asylum seekers.
Immediately after this statement, Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia.
Jakarta had strongly criticised the decision by Australia to grant the visas, saying it “regretted” the move. President Yudhyono personally guaranteed they had nothing to fear and had warned that granting asylum could strain its relations with Australia.
In a statement, it said the decision was counter to the spirit of co-operation between the two countries.
Canberra’s decision to grant Papuan asylum-seekers visas has exacerbated the Indonesian government’s anxieties about Papua and heightened suspicions about Australian interests and intentions. The grant of asylum in the minds of some Indonesian policy-makers confirms that Canberra was seeking to undermine Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua and encourage separatist sentiments. Australia has sought to defuse the row, saying it did not indicate support for Papuan secessionist aspirations.
These Indonesian suspicions relate directly to Australia’s role in the 1999 international intervention in East Timor. Many Indonesians, inside and outside the Government and the military, believe, mistakenly, that an independent East Timor was the preferred strategic outcome for Australia. They suspect that Australia has the same objective with respect to Papua. Frequent and definitive Australian government statements of support for Indonesian sovereignty in Papua evoke the Indonesian response: “That’s what you said about East Timor.”
A decision is still to be made on the 43rd asylum seeker.
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