10 Sep 2010

International development efforts directed away from Papuan NGOs by Jakarta

1:12 pm on 10 September 2010

An Indonesian human rights observer says help from international development agencies is increasingly being directed away from Papua-based NGOs.

Andreas Harsono's comment comes after Jakarta refused to renew the agreement under which the Dutch development agency Cordaid has been operating in Papua for more than three decades.

The decision about Cordaid follows recent moves to force other agencies, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, out of Papua.

Mr Harsono says the message being given to international agencies looking to run their programmes in Papua region is that they have to work with central government.

"As long as they don't work with local Papuan NGO organisations. This is what I call bias because the government likes to channel all international aid into their own agencies and doesn't let international NGOs work with native Papuan organisations."

An Indonesian human rights observer, Andreas Harsono.