Downer recognising Papuan occupation shows contempt for democracy - Brown
The Minister for Foreign Affairs' subservient agreement to recognise
Jakarta's control over West Papua shows an enormous contempt for democracy and freedom in our neighbourhood, Greens
leader Bob Brown said today.
"The double standard is astounding. The government has sent Australian troops to the other side of the world to defend
freedom and democracy but is turning its back on our Papuan neighbours call for their own act of free choice," Senator
Brown said.
In a recent Newspoll, 77% of Australians backed an act of free choice for West Papua.