Sir, - David Shanks's comprehensive summary of root problems in West Papua, where at least one in 10 of the population have been annihilated, reminds us all that the Indonesian military are still killing civilians with impunity (The Irish Times, February 20th).
Two examples come to mind: as reported in your newspaper last year, and as witnessed by the Swiss journalist Oswald Iten, 17-year old student Ori Ndoronggi was beaten to death in police custody in Abepura on December 7th, 2000. On July 20th, 2001, Daan Yairus Ramar (51), head of the council of the tribal Wondama community, died in police custody in Manokwari, after receiving multiple beatings.
The non-violent Papuan leader Theys Eluay was assassinated last November. And now leading human rights defenders are under death threat, including John Rumbiak, who met the Irish Government last April.
As a people and as a nation, we must stand with the West Papuans as we stood with the East Timorese. The military are the same military. The root problems are the same: the denial of fundamental human rights, including the denial of the right to self-determination. - Yours, etc.,
MARK DORIS,
Coordinator,
West Papua Action,
Phibsborough Road,
Dublin 7.