Full Press Release and Background Information, Click Here[.doc] or [.txt]Reports received from West Papua Refugees currently settled in Vanimo, Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea says armed gangs wearing uniforms of Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Police burned down 19 houses of the refugees and totally destroyed their gardens (crops) using spades and guns yesterday 23 January 2011 9 .The 19 houses were surrounded by the armed gangs since 1:00 am local time and the attack to the houses began at 04:00 am, arresting men, women and children, burning their houses and destroying all the eatible crops around.
The coordinator of the refugee residence in Vanimo, Barias Yikwa and his fellow elder Chaleb Wenda with their family members in total of 73 men, women and children were arrested and currently at the Vanimo Police Station and nobody knows what is happening to them.West Papua Refugee Relief Association (WPRRA) in Vanimo hereby requests:
The coordinator of the refugee residence in Vanimo, Barias Yikwa and his fellow elder Chaleb Wenda with their family members in total of 73 men, women and children were arrested and currently at the Vanimo Police Station and nobody knows what is happening to them.West Papua Refugee Relief Association (WPRRA) in Vanimo hereby requests:
- the PNG government to investigate the armed gangs who carried out inhuman operastions against refugees who already took refugee in PNG due to the Indonesian brutalities in the western half of our New Guinea Island.
- the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, the Government of the Republic of Senegal and the Commonwealth State of New Zealand to assist these displaced West Papuan refugees to seek assylum in a third country.
- The civilised and democratic international community to assist in ensuring the fundamental rights of West Papuans in Papua New Guinea are respected and protected according to the international law on refugees and human rights.
- International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) to launch an international investigation into the inhuman and brutal attacks by armed gangs against West Papuan refugees.
via ScribeFire
