The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) has been urged to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with Indonesia.

Joe Collins of the Sydney-based Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) told the Fiji Daily Post yesterday that the human rights situation in the Indonesian-ruled territory should be raised with Indonesia at the Post- Forum Dialogue.

"Indonesia is a Post- Forum Dialogue partner and here is a chance for the pacific island countries to express their concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua with Indonesia," Collins said.

Reports of human rights abuses committed by Indonesian security forces in West Papua have been on the increase since the Forum 2007 meeting.

Acts like the raising of the national flag, the Morning Star by West Papua independence lobbyists is illegal and Indonesian authorities normally clamped down hard on those involved.

"The West Papuan people are a Pacific people and it should be the leaders of the pacific countries who are leading the way in showing concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua," said Collins.

"The intimidation by the security forces of the West Papuan people is all pervasive and creates a climate of fear in the people of West Papua. The overwhelming military presence ensures that the security forces can act with total impunity," he added.

Collins said it was time for the independent countries of the Pacific to show their concern for all Pacific peoples who are still struggling for their right to self – determination.

WPA has also written to all the PIF leaders with their please which includes a call for West Papuan political prisoners to be released.

AWPA also called on the PIF to send a fact-finding mission to West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the territory.