U.S. does not support Papua<\/p>\n
I was deeply disappointed to read the assertion in The Jakarta
\nPost, Aug. 16 feature U.S. supports Papuan struggle, says Beanal,
\nthat the United States government supports Papuan independence.
\nAs I have made clear in two meetings with Mr. Beanal, the U.S.
\ngovernment does not support independence for Papua, while
\nrecognizing that the legitimate grievances of the Papuan people
\nneed to be resolved within the framework of a stable, democratic
\nand united Indonesia. This embassy issued a public statement on
\nJune 5 expressing our opposition to Papuan independence.<\/p>\n
The U.S. position has not changed since we issued this
\nstatement, not as a result of Mr. Beanal's recent travels in the
\nU.S. Despite the impression created in the Post article, Mr.
\nBeanal did not meet with President Clinton and did not obtain
\nexpression of support for Papuan independence from the Clinton
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The same article contains another inaccurate statement,
\nattributing to Mr. Beanal the comment that Papua "was robbed of
\n(its opportunity for independence) ... by the United States and
\nUnited Nations". This is a gross distortion of the constructive
\nrole played by the United States in averting conflict between
\nIndonesia and the Netherlands when Papua was under Dutch
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
ROBERT S. GELBARD<\/p>\n
Ambassador<\/p>\n
U.S. Embassy, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-does-not-support-papua-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }