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.