U.S. does not support Papua

I was deeply disappointed to read the assertion in The Jakarta Post, Aug. 16 feature U.S. supports Papuan struggle, says Beanal, that the United States government supports Papuan independence. As I have made clear in two meetings with Mr. Beanal, the U.S. government does not support independence for Papua, while recognizing that the legitimate grievances of the Papuan people need to be resolved within the framework of a stable, democratic and united Indonesia. This embassy issued a public statement on June 5 expressing our opposition to Papuan independence.

The U.S. position has not changed since we issued this statement, not as a result of Mr. Beanal's recent travels in the U.S. Despite the impression created in the Post article, Mr. Beanal did not meet with President Clinton and did not obtain expression of support for Papuan independence from the Clinton administration.

The same article contains another inaccurate statement, attributing to Mr. Beanal the comment that Papua "was robbed of (its opportunity for independence) ... by the United States and United Nations". This is a gross distortion of the constructive role played by the United States in averting conflict between Indonesia and the Netherlands when Papua was under Dutch administration.

ROBERT S. GELBARD

Ambassador

U.S. Embassy, Jakarta