West Papua activist's plea to govt
A West Papuan activist barred from speaking at parliament in
Wellington has pleaded for the government to put pressure on Indonesian
authorities to resolve a half-century-long battle for independence.
Independence leader Benny Wenda, who is living in exile in the United Kingdom,
is visiting New Zealand as part of an overseas tour campaigning for the
self-determination of West Papua, which is under Indonesian control.
Here Orginal News:http://news.msn.co.nz
He spoke at Victoria University, opposite parliament, on Tuesday after Speaker
David Carter refused to allow him to speak inside, unless it was in a political
party's caucus room.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully revealed on Tuesday that
two National MPs had wanted to co-sponsor Mr Wenda's visit, alongside Labour,
the Greens and Mana, but he advised them against it.
"We believe that the approach the government's taking to
human rights issues in West Papua and Indonesia is a more constructive
one," Mr McCully told media.
