Grave concerns have been expressed at Australia's proposed new security treaty with Indonesia and its implications for the province of Papua.
Australia is on the verge of formally recognising Indonesia's control of Papua in a proposed security treaty which lays out a new framework for co-operation between the Australian Defence Force and Indonesia's military.
However, Australia's opposition and others have criticised the secrecy of the treaty in which Jakarta is demanding a clause where Canberra rejects Papuan claims for independence.
The Australia West Papua Association says a military pact with Indonesia could mean Australia is assisting in the persecution of Papuans.
Its spokesman, Joe Collins, says it's outrageous that the Australian public doesn't know what its government is committing to.
"The Australian government should be informing the Australian public about what they are committing themselves to. There may be joint patrols in the Torres Strait to stop West Papuan asylum seekers fleeing to Australia. I mean what do we do if a boat load of asylum seekers is intercepted by one of our naval patrols. Do we just hand them back to Indonesia. For all we know, this could be in the treaty."
Joe Collins
