Foreigners involvement in Papua Conflict

An Australian received military training in the Ukraine and was travelling to West Papua to engage in “violent conflict” against the Indonesian government as a mercenary when intercepted by Australian authorities as he was about to board a flight to Papua New Guinea, a court has heard.

Gerard Michael Little, 45, who trained at the International Bodyguard Association in Ukraine, was refused bail in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday (05/12) after being charged with committing preparatory acts or performing drills for incursion into foreign states.

Little was seized in a multi-agency sting led by the Australian Federal Police at the Brisbane International Airport on Tuesday night as he tried to board a flight to Papua New Guinea, from where he intended to “island-hop” to West Papua, the court heard.

Commonwealth prosecutor Justin Williams said Little made admissions to police about his intentions and told them he had undertaken training in Ukraine in August.

He said the strength of the crown case was “overwhelming” and opposed bail on the grounds Little was a flight risk.

Magistrate Jacqui Payne refused Little’s bail application, saying there was an unacceptable risk he would flee.

Little allegedly told police in 2003 that he did not recognise the sovereignty of Australia or its laws.

The case was adjourned until January 18 for mention.

Australia fully recognises Indonesia’s sovereignty over its Papua and West Papua provinces. Australia’s support for Indonesia’s control was explicitly set out in the 2006 Lombok Treaty.

Asked about the position earlier this year, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said: “It would be a reckless Australian indeed who wanted to associate himself with a small separatist group which threatens the territorial integrity of Indonesia.”

In Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, Senator Carr told reporters it was a matter for the courts and declined to comment.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia’s West Papua province, police arrested an Ukrainian citizen during a rally dedicated to the 51st anniversary of the separatist movement of Free Papua Organization (OPM) on December 2nd.

Artem Shapirenko, 36, who entered Indonesia on a tourist visa that expired four months ago, joined the rally and yelled “Papua Merdeka” as police caught him.(*wpnn)

Australian won’t bow to Papua pressure, FM says

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Australia has been “explicit” in its support for Indonesia’s sovereignty over Papua.

Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr

Senator Carr told Newsline the provinces have been recognised “by all the nations in the earth” as Indonesian territory.
(See the video)

“There are Australians, a very small number I think…who take an interest in the notion for more autonomy for Papua but I remind them that you’d be doing a disservice to the Indonesian population of those two provinces if you held out any hope that Australia could influence the cause of events,” he said.

The Foreign Minister has dismissed suggestions public pressure would cause Australia to change its policy on Papua’s autonomy.

“I just ask those idealistic Australians who might entertain some other arrangement, that what would be the cost in terms of our friendship with Indonesia and in terms of our budget of a different arrangement.

“It’s inconceivable, utterly inconceivable.”

‘Australians seen as Asians’

The Foreign Minister says Australia’s relationship with Indonesia involves a “habit of consultation” – a relationship it enjoys with a number of its Asian neighbours including Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

“We had the Singaporeans through in recent weeks and again we have common approaches to issues like the South China Sea, he said.

“A comfortable alignment of our foreign policy positions.”

He also countered criticisms Australia’s perceptions of Asia are superficial and too “Eurocentric” in response to the recently-released Asian Century policy paper.

“The foreign minister of Myanmar was through here last week and he said..’We see Australia as Asians’,” he said.

“Why wouldn’t he? We were there in Myanmar lifting, not just suspending our sanctions.”

Senator Carr says the fact Australia won a seat on the United Nations Security Council is also testament of its strong relationship with its neighbours.

“I was struck by this when I stood there in the UN and I was being congratulated by nations from every region in the world and it dawned on me that they’re comfortable with Australia and that reflects our diplomacy,” he said.

Source: Australia Network News

Australia rejects Papuan independence

Australia categorically rejected Papuan independence Sunday saying it could not lead to a viable nation and would “completely rupture” ties with Indonesia were Canberra to weigh in.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said public opinion in Australia was “in support of Indonesian sovereignty over the two Papuan provinces” and though Canberra pressed Jakarta on human rights in the region its own position was firm.

“Our opposition to Papuan secessionism is founded on pragmatism and principle,” Carr told Sky News.

“The position in international law is Indonesian sovereignty, and while we make representations as required about human rights issues there… we are unequivocal.”

The issue was thrust into the spotlight last week when an Australian documentary crew raised questions about the involvement of Indonesian counter-terrorism police in the shooting of independence figure Mako Tabuni.

Canberra said it had appealed to Indonesia for a full and open inquiry into Tabuni’s death and continued to press its neighbour on human rights in the restive province.

Carr on Sunday denied that Papuan independence was a matter of diplomatic concern between the nations but counselled Australians, particularly religious and trade union groups, against supporting the separatist movement.

“The cost of engaging at a serious level in that sort of activity would be a complete rupture in Australia-Indonesia relations,” the foreign minister said.

“It would serve no good whatsoever because the nation that they would be seeking to create would not be viable, and were it to be created — and that is inconceivable — Australia would be picking up the bill.”

Armed separatist groups have for decades fought an insurgency in resources-rich Papua.

Source: AFP

Australia defends ties with Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit

Australia has defended its role in the support and training of Indonesia’s elite police counter-terrorism unit, Detachment 88.

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Bob Carr

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, says that it’s vital Indonesia has the ability to disrupt terrorist groups.

Australia provided funding to the Indonesian forces for specific counter-terrorism initiatives, including cars, telecoms and computer equipment worth Aus$314,500 (US$325,810) over two years.

Australia’s Foreign Minister also addressed that Australia had consistently recognized Indonesian sovereignty over Papua.(*wpnn)