RI rejects NZ's offer to help solve Papua issue
RI rejects NZ's offer to help solve Papua issue
Kornelius Purba and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
Yogyakarta
The issue of secessionist movements in Papua was raised during
the first ministerial meeting of the Southwest Pacific Dialog in
Yogyakarta on Saturday, but Indonesia made it clear that it was
headed in the right direction in resolving the problems in the
province with the implementation of special autonomy there.
Speaking at a joint news conference with foreign ministers of
five other participating countries of the Southwest Pacific
Dialog, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said the
issue was raised by New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Trade Phil Goff during the two-day session.
Hassan said he appreciated New Zealand's initiative but
reiterated that Papua was an internal problem of Indonesia's, and
that it wants to resolve the problem on its own.
"I have listened attentively to the offers from my colleagues
of whether there is a need for a third party for mediation and
facilitation in regard to Irian Jaya," said Hassan, referring to
Papua.
Goff, who was seated on Hassan's right side, smiled at his
counterpart.
A senior Indonesian diplomat said that in the meeting,
Indonesia clearly stated that the country does not need any
assistance in dealing with the Papua issue.
Goff said that as a good neighbor, his country was ready to
assist Indonesia in restoring peace to Papua, and that its own
experience in mediating the rebellion in Bougenvile, Papua New
Guinea, would be an advantage in helping Indonesia.
However, Goff said that his country would act as a mediator
only on Indonesia's request.
"We noted that the mediation was made under the request of
both sides," the minister said in reference to Bougenvile, where
Papua New Guinea and the rebels jointly requested New Zealand and
Australia to mediate the conflict.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer strongly defended
Indonesia's stance on Papua and said it would not bow to pressure
from certain groups or non-governmental organizations to
interfere in Papua.
A united and peaceful Indonesia is a key factor for the
security of Australia and the Asia Pacific region, he said.
"If other countries start to support the secessionist
movements, it would contribute to enormous destabilization in the
region, and generally in Southeast Asia. We have to think about
the future, so we stick to our position that the Papua issue is
for Indonesia to resolve," Downer said.
Papua New Guinea Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
Rabbie Namaliu said that as the closest neighbor of Papua, it was
ready to help Indonesia in ending the rebellion in the province.
He stressed Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua and praised
Jakarta for its cooperative attitude toward his country.
"We respect each other," Namaliu said.
The meeting was also attended by Philippines Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Blas F. Ople and East Timor Foreign Minister Jose
Ramos Horta.
The six ministers adopted two declarations: the Yogyakarta
Declaration founding the forum and an 11-point joint statement,
which constituted their commitment to work together in curbing
the many security issues, such as terrorism, people smuggling and
other international crimes.
The participating countries also agreed to devote their
individual and collective energies to meet the challenges.
They underlined the importance of economic development and
poverty reduction in ensuring domestic and regional security.
Meanwhile, in a bid to enhance personal contact among the
participating countries, Indonesia offered 15 scholarships for
studying Indonesian arts and culture in Yogyakarta and Bandung.
Australia will host the next round of meetings in 2004, while
in between, the participating countries will meet in New York
before the United Nations general assembly next year.