Canberra – Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), Dr. Mike Nahan, disclosed here on Friday that a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Australia have given their support to separatism in Indonesia, particularly in "West Papua".

Nahan said that these NGOs, led by distinguished public figures, receive funds from the Australian government, adding that there is no need to make an issue of the NGOs' activities to support separatism in Indonesia, if they use their own money to finance them.

To Antara news agency, he pointed out that it is quite different if the NGOs procure funds from the Australian government to finance some social projects, then use the funds to finance covert activities to support secessionist movements in Indonesia.

He referred to the roles of some Australian NGOs in the struggle for independence in East Timor some years ago, which has resulted in the secession of the former Indonesian province.

He said it was these Australian NGOs that had made the East Timor issue remain in the focus of the international circle, writing news to benefit the secessionist movement, organizing demonstrations, lobbying politicians and referring the East Timor issues to international fora.

Nahan said one of the Australian NGOs in support of separatism in "West Papua" is the Australian People Health, Education and Development Aid (APHEDA). It is affiliated with the Australian Trade Union, which receives funds from AusAID under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In its annual report, APHEDA admitted that it had given its support to pro-independence movements in Papua, Palestine and West Sahara.

During the period of 1999-2000, the APHEDA operation in Indonesia had been assisted with funds from the AusAID, amounting to $4.4 million Australian dollars.

One of its activities was the development of a workers training program in Bandung, West Java. APHEDA was also involved in various labor disputes in Indonesia, including the workers demonstrations at Shangri-La Hotel late in 2000. Nahan also accused the Australian Volunteers International (AVI) of giving covert support to separatist movements in Indonesia, by making use of the Australian government's aid to Indonesia, referring to the case of Kirsty Sword, a social worker who worked as a teacher in East Timor a few years ago, when it was still an ndonesian province.

According to Nahan, apart from being a teacher, Sword also did some espionage work for the benefit of the pro-independence movement. Sword is now the wife of East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao.