RI threatens to cut ties with Vanuatu over Papua

RI threatens to cut ties with Vanuatu over Papua

Indonesia has threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Vanuatu over the Pacific nation's support for separatist rebels in Papua province, the state news agency Antara reported on Wednesday.

Acting Indonesian ambassador to Australia Imron Cotan, quoted by Antara, said he delivered the message to Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Nipake Natapei in a meeting in mid-January.

"We're mandated to deliver Indonesia's position over the plan to open what they say is the first Papua embassy in the world," he said.

Cotan, speaking in Canberra, said Papua had always been part of Indonesia.

"Since the Dutch colony era, Indonesia has defended Papua's territory in every way, including war. Now, we are ready for war again to defend Papua," he was quoted as saying.

Antara said Vanuatu had hosted leaders of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and had pledged to allow the group to set up an office there.

Cotan said Vanuatu should abide by a document agreed by the Pacific Forum which confirms support for Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua.

Indonesia is a partner country of the Pacific Forum.

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa could not immediately confirm the report.

He told AFP he understood the OPM had intended to set up an office in Vanuatu but was unaware that it had received support from the Pacific nation.

Indonesia established diplomatic relations with Vanuatu in 1995. The relations was formally put into existence by then Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Wiryono S. on Dec. 3, 1996.

Located in the Southwest Pacific, Vanuatu consists of 80 islands with a total area of 12,200 square kilometers. With a population of 170,000 people, it borders Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. -- Agencies