Joe Collins from the Australia West Papua Association said there should be no ties with the Indonesian military until it can be proven that the TNI has been reformed.

The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Marshal Djoko Suyanto is on a visit to Canberra to strengthen military relations between the two nations.

Yet starting last December the TNI have being conducting a military operation in the Highlands of West Papua. This operation caused thousands of local people to flee to the bush where many faced starvation because they were afraid to return to their villages to work in their food gardens.

Also, numerous reports have shown that the Indonesian military are involved in illegal resource extraction in West Papua including illegal logging.

It must be remembered that the TNI receive less than 50% of its budget from the government and must raise the rest themselves. AWPA said that it should be realized that any such institution would be open to corruption".

Joe Collins said that" while such entrenched practices continue, it is highly unlikely that the professionalism of the Australian military will have any influence on the TNI",

Many of the submissions into the recently signed Lombok treaty (yet to be ratified by parliament) also raised concerns about the Indonesian military.

AWPA believes that any training or aid given to the Indonesian military could be used to oppress the West Papuan people.

For more Info contact: Joe Collins Mob. 04077 857 97.I