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june 19, 2007

Australians miles ahead of their major party politicians on West Papua

A Newspoll on West Papua released by businessman Ian Melrose shows that Australians are way ahead of their major party politicians when it comes to the issue of freedom and acting decently to our neighbours.

Almost 77% of Australians are in favour of self determination for West Papua including the option of independence.

Heres Ian Melroses media release.

Wednesday, 19 April 2006

Massive Australian support for West Papua

A new opinion poll shows over 75% of Australians support self determination for West Papua including the option of independence.

The nationwide poll of 1,200 people conducted by Newspoll between 7-9 April, asked the following question:

And now a question about the Indonesian province of West Papua. Recently there has been some discussion in the Australian media about whether the people of West Papua should have the right to self determination, that is, the right to determine their own political future, including the option of independence. Are you personally in favour or against self determination for the people of West Papua?

77% were in favour of self determination and only 6% were against. The remaining 17% were undecided or didnt know.

The poll was commissioned by Australian businessman Ian Melrose. Mr Melrose previously funded an advertising campaign in support of East Timors right to oil and gas revenue in the Timor Sea after the Howard Government withdrew East Timors right to have the dispute heard by an independent UN court.

Mr Melrose does not belong to any political party and never has.

This is a massive level of support for the people of West Papua throughout the Australian community, Mr Melrose said.

I am delighted that Australians so overwhelmingly support the West Papuans. I expected nothing less.

It is a shame that John Howard and Kim Beazley do not match the Australian peoples inherent decency when it comes to basic human rights and justice. I believe the poll sends a clear message to Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley.

Siding with the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian military over the rights and aspirations of the West Papuan people is very unpopular across all sections of Australian society.

I feel sure that if the 42 West Papuan refuges were sent back they would all be killed. The UN report released in January 2006 stated the Indonesian military were responsible for 183,000 East Timorese deaths during their 24 years occupation. The Indonesian actions in West Papua will be no different to their actions in East Timor, Mr Melrose said.

Click here to see the full details of the poll

posted by Ben Oquist # 10:36 AM 6 comments

April 13, 2006

Howard enters Cole Commission

Ive just come from Market st. in Sydney city where Howard has entered the Cole Commission at about 9.45am to give his evidence.

He didnt enter a side door, nor drive in. He walked in after being dropped off a fair way up the street.

A small bunch of anti-war and pro-refugee protestors waited on the other side of the road surrounded by police.

So I wandered back to the other side of the street away from the protesters and next to the entrance to the building that is housing the Commission. I popped in to the St George bank for a bit of privacy, whipped out my texta and wrote a little sign on an A4 piece op paper.

So when Howard came by, with the protesters far away on the other side of the road, I was able to get right beside the PM, pull out my piece of paper and place the word RODENT next to his head (see photo taken shorlty before above) Together we walked a few yards as he made his way to enter the building. I was the only protester to get anywhere near him. Eventually I was bundled away by an aggressive plain clothes security agent.

Meanwhile just after he entered the building, refugee activist Ian Rintoul made a dive for the front door. He collided with some journalists shortly before a police scrum tackled and arrested him.

So while Howards security decoy strategy almost worked today, a few protesters managed to use a decoy strategy of our own to get up close and personal.

Postscript: on some TV news the protest could be seen and the Daily Telegraph's Malcolm Farr covered it with a story and photo.

posted by Ben Oquist # 11:15 AM 3 comments

April 12, 2006

Harry the Hero

I travelled down to Canberra yesterday to hear Senate Clerk Harry Evans at the National Press Club.

While Alexander Downer wasnt answering questions properly at the AWB Cole Commission in Sydney, hearing Harry in Canberra felt like a breath of fresh air. Certainly what Harry had to say about how the AWB scandal had unfolded (and the Governments Senate response) was more interesting than Downers dishevelling.

Here was public servant speaking frankly and fearlessly about Government abuse of power, the need for robust accountability and the threats posed to our democracy by a Government controlled Senate.

Check out his full speech here.

I was able to ask Mr Evans a couple of questions during the Q and A session at the end of his talk. I asked him if the Government directive in Senate estimates earlier this year to ban public servants answering questions about the AWB was a lawful directive. Not a bad question if I dont say so myself! Anyway, the Senate Clerk answered frankly and directly that it was not a lawful directive. The media were quick to pick up on the issue and covered the response to my question here, here, here and here. There was also a short piece on ABCs Lateline and the wonderfully erudite Geoffrey Barker had a top piece in the AFR but both are not available on line.

One worries though about who will replace Harry. Will someone as independent minded, tough and loyal to the institution of the Senate be allowed to replace him? Is Harry Evans the last great Senate Clerk?

posted by Ben Oquist # 12:11 PM 1 comments