It is to be hoped that Prime Minister Rudd will also raise the issue of West Papua on his trip to Indonesia for the inauguration of the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday.

Joe Collins of AWPA said "although the issue of asylum seekers will obviously be the priority on Mr Rudd's agenda we hope that the issue of West Papua will also be part of any discussions".

West Papua is the one issue that could cause major friction between Australia and Indonesia (as it has in the past) and it is in Australia's interest to resolve the many critical issues besetting the West Papuan people The best way forward is through dialogue and Prime Minister Rudd should be encouraging the Indonesian President to dialogue with representatives of the West Papuan people.

The West Papuan leadership has been calling for dialogue with Jakarta for many years.

Joe Collins
Mob. 04077 857 97