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> Indonesia: Don't try Gaza flotilla thing on us!, Indonesia warns Australians

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SUSrivost
post Aug 19 2013, 08:30 AM, updated 11y ago

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On 31 May 2010, the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" sailed towards the Eastern Mediterranean Sea trying to break the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel's naval commandos boarded the ships in order to force them to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection. On the Turkish ship MV Mavi Marmara however, the personnel faced resistance from about 40 out of 590 activists who were armed with iron bars and knives.

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The flotilla incident which drew widespread condemnation to Israel

During the struggle, nine activists were killed including eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish American, plus many were wounded. The raid drew widespread global condemnation internationally and resulted in a deterioration of Israel-Turkey relations. In September 2011, a United Nations report concluded that the Israeli blockade was legal, but that Israel army used excessive force in this incident.

The government of Israel maintained that the flotilla was organized as a provocation for international media stunt, and that the 40 hardcore activists were prepared from the beginning for a violent confrontation. The New York Times, in an editorial, asserted that "at least some of the activists on the lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, were seeking a confrontation – and got one." The incident remains a thorny issue in Turkey-Israel relations.

Another flotilla voyage was organized again in July 2011. They were however, intercepted by the Greek coast guard. The government of Greece offered to instead send any humanitarian aid to Gaza in its own vessels, under United Nations supervision. Greece's offer was supported by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the United Nations, but rejected by the flotilla activists. They set sail anyway, and Greece informed Israel of their movement. The ship was intercepted and boarded without incident by Israeli commandos and escorted to the port of Ashdod.

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Papuan activists: We don't have billion of brothers and sisters backing us, but we must bring attention to our plight

Now a group in Asia is attempting similar method, this time against Indonesia. They are calling it the "West Papua Freedom Flotilla", organized by the Papuan indigenous elders as a creative resistance against the Indonesian occupation of West Papua. Their spokesman, Ronny Kareni says they are trying to send a solidarity message through the peace journey. The flotilla of two yachts will set sail from Cairns, Australia today to Papua New Guinea. From there, the activists say they plan to sail into Indonesian West Papua.

Indonesian authorities have warned Australian activists on the "freedom flotilla" to avoid entering West Papua. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged friendly countries to intervene to prevent political activities that could damage diplomatic relations, presumably directed at Australia and Papua New Guinea.

"Through this confirmation (of mutual respect for sovereignty) I hope that all parties can be actively worked to prevent political activities that can disturb good relationships between Indonesia and other friendly countries," Yudhoyono said in the national parliament. "Do not hurt the feeling of Indonesia because we do not want to hurt others.

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The map of West Papua in Indonesia

Free Papua activists say the aim of the voyage is to draw world attention to "ongoing atrocities" in West Papua by Indonesian security forces. Activist Amos Wainggai says he remains optimistic the flotilla will be able to enter West Papua. Seven years ago, Amos and 40 others fled West Papua to Australia where they sought asylum. "When I was in West Papua I was part of a group that wanted independence," Mr Amos, who is now an Australian citizen, said. "The military found out and then they started looking for me and my friends. If they found me I would have been killed."

Indonesia has been accused of using violence against West Papuans who have sought self-determination. Amos says he knows a number of people who have been killed in his homeland. He hopes West Papua will one day be "free" so that he can live there with his family once again. "I miss everything, I miss my friends and family," he said. "I want to tell all Australians that we are human beings and we have to look after each other."

The predominantly Christian, resource-rich region was forcibly annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s. Since then, the Papua conflict erupted, with independence activists waging guerrilla war against the Indonesian state, accusing Indonesia of indiscriminate violence and of suppressing their freedom of expression. They were further encouraged by the independence of East Timor in 1999, whom Indonesia annexed in 1975 and declared its 27th province. Both West Papua and East Timor are of Christian-majority.

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West Papuans seeking independence from Indonesia

The Indonesian-Papua conflict has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths, more than 10 times the 14,500 casualties in Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. Aimed at supporting West Papua's independence struggle, political analysts fear the venture could spark diplomatic tensions between Australia and Indonesia if incident occurs.

The flotilla's co-founder, Jacob Rumbiak said senior Indonesian officials had warned the group against entering Indonesian territory. Mr Rumbiak, a representative of the Federated Republic of West Papua, said the Indonesians boasted to him: "It will be very dangerous for you; we have a strong navy, strong military."

AP Stacey, 47, a former Australian soldier who will be on one of the boats, told the Guardian: "Because I've been in the military myself I probably have a better understanding than everybody else of what might happen if it goes pear-shaped. There are a number of possibilities. The Indonesian authorities could quite simply turn us back. They could arrest us. I guess the worse-case scenario is they could shoot us."

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Indonesia to Papuan activists: Don't come near us, your action is illegal

Indonesia has long records of using force to suppress Papuan activists. The Indonesian military and police opened fire on a peaceful protest gathering in the West Papuan capital of Jayapura in October 2011, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natelegawa has dismissed the planned voyage. "Yet another one of those cheap publicity stunts," he said. Back in 2010, Indonesia strongly condemned Israel, with wide rallies held across the country demanding human rights and independent state for the Palestinians.

A website for the flotilla has been put up at http://freedomflotillawestpapua.org/


Source:

credit to mevotex@miricommunity.net

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/internati...t-papua/1162976

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1801669...nter-West-Papua

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/natio...f-1226698068914

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/...tilla-indonesia

This post has been edited by rivost: Aug 19 2013, 08:34 AM
SUSrivost
post Aug 19 2013, 09:01 AM

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if indonesia breaks up here and there, how can it convince malaysia to join greater indonesia? biggrin.gif

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