Papuan refugees

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 04/24/2006 10:41 AM | Opinion

I have followed the Papua-Australia refugee question with some alarm over recent weeks. It is surely the mark of a confident secure democracy that its rulers accept that not all its citizens are well treated all the time. Also that if any citizen chooses to seek asylum elsewhere they probably have due cause. And finally that the country where they seek asylum has a duty to treat them with consideration.

Indonesia seems to be taking the stance that the Papuans must have been criminals to flee to Australia, because everything in Indonesia is perfect and they had nothing to flee from. Therefore Australia was deliberately trying to be provocative by treating the asylum seekers in accordance with international norms.

Oh please! As if Australia wants to fall out with its biggest neighbor! I believe it's time that Indonesia started behaving like one of the world's biggest democracies, and showed a degree of maturity in its dealings with the outside world. The proper response would surely have been to determine what aspects of life in Papua made these people flee, and to make whatever changes are needed there to solve the problems. Then thank Australia for looking after the refugees, and invite them to return.

DAVID BISHOP Harrogate, UK

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