As ANZAC Day approaches and we remember all those who died and suffered in past wars we should also remember those people still suffering from conflict in our region today.

Most Australians are aware of Australian troops involvement in PNG during the second World War but not many are aware that Australian troops also saw action in West Papua. Australian army and Air force personal were based in the Merauke region of West Papua, then Dutch New Guinea.

We should remember that the West Papuan people, are suffering human rights abuses today and AWPA calls on the Australian Government to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government.

The Australia Government should admit that an Australian party lead by the President of the Australian Senate, Sir Alister McMullin attended and celebrated the inauguration of the New Guinea Council in April 1961 after national elections in West New Guinea were held in January 1961.

We ask the Australia Parliament and Senate to discuss whether the New York Agreement was in conflict with our support of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 1514 "Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples" and 1541 "Principles which should guide Members in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter" in December 1960.

For more information contact Andrew Johnston on 0434 383 983.