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Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
vanuatu mentioning the problem again Papua in the UN General Assembly.
In a speech at the 75th session of the UN in 2020 read on Sunday (9/27), Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman accused Indonesia of human rights violations in Papua, and it continues to this day.
Vanuatu is one of the Pacific countries that has spoken out by highlighting the alleged human rights violations in Papua.
Vanuatu covers an area of 12 square kilometers or the area of Maluku Island. Despite being considered a “small country”, Vanuatu dared to harass Indonesia by continuing to express its support for Papua’s independence.
Vanuatu even supports the struggle of Papuan separatist groups like the West Papua Liberation Movement (ULMWP) led by Benny Wenda. Witnesses from the country where ULMWP was founded six years ago.
This country with a population of 270,000 inhabitants has not once raised the issue of alleged human rights violations in Papua in international forums such as the United Nations.
At the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in 2016, Vanuatu and five other Pacific countries also touched on the same topic. They even pressured the UN to investigate the alleged human rights violations in Papua.
Without enough fanfare in the General Assembly, Vanuatu along with the Solomon Islands also raised the Papua issue at the UN Human Rights Council forum in Geneva.
In January last year, Vanuatu enraged Indonesia by smuggling Benny Wenda into his delegation when he met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in Geneva.
At the time, Indonesia, through the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva, Hasan Kleib, strongly criticized Vanuatu’s deliberate “KT HAM deception” by taking manipulative measures by smuggling Benny Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation. .
During that time, Benny also submitted a referendum petition for West Papua independence that was claimed to have been signed by 1.8 million people.
Indonesia is not silent whenever Vanuatu and other Pacific countries are harassed by the Papua issue in international forums.
At the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Indonesia, through its young diplomat, Nara Masista Rakhmatia, denied all the arguments of Vanuatu and several Pacific countries that raised the issue of Papua in the hearing.
He didn’t stop there, at the UN General Assembly last year, Vice President Jusuf Kalla raised his voice regarding the Vanuatu accusations. JK said the statement described a “hostile act” against Indonesia that had no place in the UN system and violated international principles.
“It has been too long for Indonesia to choose to enter into friendly relations with Vanuatu, even showing solidarity and sympathy during difficult times,” JK said at the time.
At last year’s UN session, the Indonesian delegation of Melanesian descent, Rayyanul Sangadji, considered Vanuatu a supporter of the separatist movement. Jakarta believes that Vanuatu will continue issuing statements and provocative actions on Papua, giving false hope and even causing conflicts between the communities of the province.
Solidarity over race
Vanuatu’s history of support for Papua’s independence has its roots in the early days of the country’s formation.
After being free from the French and British colonies in 1980, Vanuatu’s first prime minister, Walter Hadye, declared that his country’s independence would not be complete until the entire nation and territory of Melanesia, including West Papua, were free. of colonialism.
Hadye’s declaration is seen as the beginning of Vanuatu’s support for Papua’s independence in the country.
In 2010, Vanuatu’s parliament even adopted the Wantok Blong Yumi bill, which emphasized Vanuatu’s recognition of West Papua’s independence from Indonesia.
Through this law, Vanuatu grants West Papua observer status in the Punta de Lanza Melanesian Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Response from Indonesia
At this year’s UN session, Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman said that alleged human rights violations in Papua were of particular concern to Pacific countries who called on Indonesia to allow the UN Human Rights Council visit Papua.
However, Loughman said, the Indonesian government did not respond to the call. “I ask the Indonesian government to respond to the calls of the Pacific leaders,” he said.
Indonesian diplomat Silvany Austin Pasaribu immediately denied the allegations.
In the right of reply, Silvany said that Vanuatu had an excessive and unhealthy obsession with how Indonesia should act or rule its own country. He stressed that Vanuatu is not a representative of the Papuan people.
“You are not a representation of the Papuan people and stop fantasizing about being one of them,” Silvany said.
“I am confused, how can a country try to teach other countries, but does not pay attention and does not understand the fundamental principles of the UN Charter,” Silvany said in a speech on the official UN YouTube account, the Sunday (9/27).
Almost every year at the UN General Assembly, Vanuatu always raises the issue of alleged human rights violations in Papua. Indonesia itself regards Vanuatu as a country that supports the separatist movement.
“Indonesia will defend itself against any defense of separatism that is transmitted under the guise of an artificial concern for human rights,” Silvany said.
He said that since 1945, Papua and West Papua are part of Indonesia, which is a final decision and cannot be challenged. This has also been strongly supported by the United Nations and the international community since the last decades.
(DEA)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
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