Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has been urged to launch a Senate inquiry into Australian aid to Indonesia, with several people killed at a peace rally in West Papua.
About 5000 people attended the Papuan Peoples Congress earlier this month to discuss human rights issues and declare independence from Indonesian rule.
But Joe Collins, secretary of the Australia West Papua Association, said police and the Indonesian military used canes and batons to attackpeople.
He said six West Papuan people were killed in the incident and another six were charged with treason.
International news agencies are reporting that five people were killed but the Jakarta Globe newspaper also says six.
Mr Collins said the government should call on Indonesia to halt all military operations in West Papua to prevent further bloodshed.
"We also urge the government to hold an inquiry into how Australian aid and training to the Indonesian military impacts on the life of the West Papuan people," Mr Collins said.
He said the situation was deteriorating rapidly in the Indonesian-controlled province.
President of the Australian branch of the International Commission of Jurists, John Dowd, said Indonesia should stop denying West Papua its independence.
"There is a limit to how far you can suppress the will of a people," Mr Dowd told reporter in Sydney on Thursday.
"The main problem with West Papua is suppression."
Mr Dowd said Australia needed to do more to pressure Indonesia to stop human rights abuses in West Papua.
He emphasised the need for a free press and media scrutiny of the region.
"If Indonesia has nothing to hide, then why suppress the press?" Mr Dowd said.
Source More>>http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/news
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