No plans to sever ties with Vanuatu: Minister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government denied over the weekend reports that it would sever diplomatic ties with Vanuatu in reaction to the possible opening of the first embassy of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the pacific country.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday that Vanuatu had never officially said that it would allow the Papuan secessionist group to open an embassy in the country.

"Vanuatu has no plans to host the first embassy of Papuan rebels; it is not the policy of the pacific country's government," Hassan said at a media briefing.

"We were shocked to hear reports saying that we want to sever ties with Vanuatu when we are still trying to use diplomatic channels to deal with the problem," he remarked.

Hassan was commenting on news reports in the past view days saying that Jakarta would end its ties with Vanuatu after the tiny pacific country hinted at allowing Papuan rebels to open an embassy there.

Acting Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Imron Cotan was quoted by Antara as saying last week that he had conveyed Indonesia's message (to cut diplomatic ties) to Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Nipake Natapei during a meeting in mid-January.

"We are mandated to deliver Indonesia's position over the plan to open what they say is the first Papuan embassy in the world," Imron was quoted as saying.

Pacific Island Forum member countries declared that they would support the territorial integrity of Indonesia and did not recognize the OPM.

Hassan urged Vanuatu earlier to abide by the declaration and not provide the opportunity for Papuan rebels to enjoy such foreign support.

OPM has been waging a low-level independence war against Jakarta since the 1970s.

The government has repeatedly expressed its concern over efforts by OPM to obtain diplomatic recognition from foreign countries.

Hassan said that Jakarta was currently arranging a visit for Natapei or the Vanuatu foreign affairs minister to travel to Indonesia in the near future.

The minister emphasized that Jakarta remained confident that there was strong support from the Pacific countries with regard to maintaining Indonesia's territorial integrity.