19 Dec 2012

NZ government response on Papua questions a cop-out, says Greens MP

6:20 pm on 19 December 2012

A New Zealand Green Party MP has strongly criticised the government over its response to questions regarding ongoing violence in Indonesia's Papua region.

Throughout this year, Catherine Delahunty has lodged dozens of questions with the government about how it engages with Indonesia, a major trading partner, over security and human rights issues in Papua.

This includes questions about the New Zealand police training programme in Papua.

She has sought comment from the foreign minister about recent shootings of Papuan activists in the Highlands.

"I've been consistently asking questions of Murray McCully about the police shootings and all I get back are these bland replies saying that the New Zealand government is aware of these events but hasn't raised any matters with the Indonesian President. I just think it's a complete avoidance tactic. I think that they just don't care how many people die in West Papua."

Catherine Delahunty