Foreigners denied entry to Papua

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To avert the possibility of foreign intervention, the government announced on Thursday it would deny entry to a delegation from a United States-based non-governmental organization to Papua.

The Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) has invited the American activists grouped under the Council of Foreign Relations as observers in the strife-torn province between Dec. 13 and Dec. 16.

"We do not see the urgency for such an organization to enter Papua. What for?," Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday.

The ministry has only received information regarding the plan, but not a formal request from the NGO.

Former U.S. Pacific fleet commander Dennis Blair will reportedly head the delegation.

"They have not notified us of their plan, but, I stress that, once again, there is no need for them to come to Papua," the minister said.

Hassan said that the organization was planning to assess the conflict situation in the province, but their purpose was unclear.

Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said that the Indonesian embassy in Washington had implicitly told the NGO that Jakarta would not let them enter Papua.

"They are not representing the U.S. government and our embassy in Washington has indicated that the NGO would be rejected should they try to enter Papua," Marty said.

Foreign intervention in Papua has been one of the worrying factors for the government in maintaining the province as part of the republic.

Earlier on Wednesday, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto expressed his anger over foreign parties with vested interests that use diplomatic channels to support the separatist movement in the province.

"I am not optimistic that we can solve separatist problems in Papua ... It's because this province has more potential (to be independent) and is being supported by various foreign interests," Endriartono said.