Indonesia officially acquired West Papua in 1969, after a sham ballot on independence in which only a handful of the local population were allowed to vote.
But when the ballot was held in 1969, it was far from free and fair: the Indonesian military handpicked 1,026 leaders to vote on behalf of the entire population, and threatened to kill them and their families if they voted the wrong way.
In this environment, the outcome of the so-called ‘Act of Free Choice’ was unanimous – and Indonesia’s takeover of West Papua was rubber-stamped by the UN.
Indigenous West Papuans face daily surveillance and intimidation by the Indonesian military and police, and many report living in constant fear.
Thousands have been killed, detained and tortured since 1963.
It”s about time Australia stepped up to the plate and said something. Diplomacy hasn’t worked for over 50 years.
The world, especially, Australia should be ashamed of their inaction.
A brief video relating to the ongoing genocide in West Papua is at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCvk3NZCzTU
Craig Moore, Stroud, NSW
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
