Aust: Rejecting W. Papuan asylum seeker condemned

Greens condemn political decision to reject West Papuan asylum seeker

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today condemned as 'politically motived' the decision to reject the asylum claim of the last remaining West Papuan refugee on Christmas Island.

"The Australian public will see this decision for what it is; a politically motivated attempt to placate the Indonesians," Senator
Nettle said.

"This man has one of the strongest cases for asylum being the son of one of the most prominent leaders of the West Papuan Independence movement Thomas Wainggai who died whilst languishing on a life sentence in an Indonesian prison after raising the West Papuan flag.

"He has been rejected on the basis of a flimsy technicality which the
Minister must know will not stand up to much scrutiny.

"Mr Wainggai is now doomed to remain alone on Christmas Island whilst he waits for his case to be appealed at the refugee review tribunal.

"The Greens condemn this act of appeasement as another example of the government's willingness to put trade and security relationships above human rights."

© Scoop Media