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Indonesia accuses Pacific countries of interference Featured

Left to right: Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai; Solomon Islands Prime Minsister Manasseh Sogavare; Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva; Nauru President Baron Waqa; Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine; Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga Photo: UN Photo Left to right: Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai; Solomon Islands Prime Minsister Manasseh Sogavare; Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva; Nauru President Baron Waqa; Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine; Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga Photo: UN Photo

26 Septemeber, 2016. Indonesia has accused a number of Pacific Islands countries of interfering in its domestic matters regarding West Papua at the United Nations.

The accusation during the UN General Assembly came after leaders from six Pacific countries - Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu - expressed concern about human rights abuses in Papua.

Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly expressed concern about human rights abuses in Papua. Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly expressed concern about human rights abuses in Papua. 

Calls for Papuan self-determination rights to be respected were also made by some of the leaders during this 71st session of the general assembly debate.

"Human rights violations in West Papua and the pursuit for self-determination of West Papua are two sides of the same coin," said the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare.

"Many reports on human rights violations in West Papua emphasise the inherent corroboration between the right to self-determination that results in direct violations of human rights by Indonesia in its attempts to smother any form of opposition."

In a call echoed by the other Pacific leaders, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine urged the UN Human Rights Council to initiate a credible investigation of violations in West Papua.

Nara Masista Rakhmatia, an official at Indonesia's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, responds to criticism of her country's treatment of West Papuans by Pacific Island countries at the UN General Assembly, 2016.Nara Masista Rakhmatia, an official at Indonesia's permanent mission to the UN in New York, responds to the criticism. 

While Indonesia's Vice-President, Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, did not address Papua in his speech at the session, Jakarta's response to Pacific governments' criticism came from an official at Indonesia's permanent mission to the UN.

Nara Masista Rakhmatia said her government was shocked to hear the island countries' claims about Papua when discussion at the session should have been about sustainable development goals and the global response to climate change.

"The same leaders chose instead to violate the UN charter by interfering in other countries' sovereignty and violating its territorial integrity," she said.

She said her government categorically rejected accusations of rights abuses in Papua, and that they reflected an unfortunate misunderstanding of the history of Indonesia and its current progressive developments.

Ms Rakhmatia singled out Vanuatu and Solomon Islands in particular, suggesting other countries with human rights problems shouldn't point the finger at Indonesia.

"Their politically motivated statements were designed to support separatist groups in the said provinces [West Papua and Papua] who have consistently engaged in inciting public disorder and in conducting armed terrorist attacks."

The official reiterated Jakarta's stand that it had mechanisms in place to deal with human rights abuses in Papua.

"With such a vibrant national democracy, coupled with the highest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights at all levels, it would be nearly impossible for any human rights allegations to go un-noticed and un-scrutinised," she said.

Jakarta, however, maintains restrictions on access to Papua for leading international humanitarian and rights organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International.

Furthermore, Indonesian police chiefs in Papua region have taken a strict line on a series of large, peaceful demonstrations by Papuans calling for self-determination in recent months, resulting in mass arrests in some cases.

The prime minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sopoaga, said that the UN could not and must not ignore the "deplorable situations" in Papua by hiding "behind the guise of the principles of non-interference and sovereignty".

"The UN must act on this issue and find a workable solution to give autonomy to the indigenous peoples of West Papua," he said.

-RNZI

9 comments

  • Vili
    Vili Thursday, 29 September 2016 21:35 Comment Link

    Koe taumu'a e fakataha ne fai ne fekau'aki fakapatonu moe "feliuliuaki 'ae 'ea" (Climate change). Tau ngauehala'aki 'e kitautolu e taimi ne totongi mai ai kitautolu ke tau kau atu ki he fakataha - ki hono fai e fo'i kaunoa ko 'eni he me'a fakalotofonua 'a Initonesia.

    Koe ha ne 'ikai ngaue'aki ai e taimi koia ke fai ha ngaahi laaulea fekau'aki mo hotau ngaahi palopalema 'oku fakatupu he feliuliuaki e 'ea.
    1) Tafea hotau ngaahi 'api he lahi e lovai he taimi 'uha! Ne fai ha lau lea kiai he fakataha ko'eni?
    2) Hala pule'anga - hono maumau'i 'ehe vai he taimi 'uha lahi. Ne fai ha lave ki ai he taimi fakataha?
    3) Ngaahi uafu taulanga he ngaahi 'otumotu - tautatefito ki he ongo Niua, 'otu motu iiki 'o Ha'apai mo Vava'u. Taimi 'eni ke ngaue'aki e palopalema 'oe feliuliuaki 'ae 'ea (Climate Change) ke 'omai 'aki ha ngaahi tokoni fakapatonu mai ki he ngaahi me'a mhu'inga ko'eni. Ne fai ha lau ki ai 'ae fakataha?
    4) 'Aa-malu'i 'oe ngaahi kolo ma'ulalo - hange ko Pangai Lifuka, Hihifo Tongatapu, etc. Ne fai ha lau ki ai he fakataha?
    5) Silapa Fo'ou 'oe Ako - fiema'u ke fai ha sio fakalukufua ki he silapa e ako ke fakapapau'i 'oku kau ai e founga hono kaatekina mo solova e palopalema 'oe Feliuliuaki e 'ea. Ne fai ha lau ki ai he fakataha?
    6) Etc, etc, etc, etc.

    Koe taha, 'oku ta'efakapotopoto ke tau kau he fakatupukee ki he fa'ahinga fonua hange ko Initonesia - he 'oku kau nautolu he tu'ukimu'ataha 'i mamani he ivi fakakautau. 'Oua 'aupito te tau fakafalala ki NZ mo Aust he 'e fakataha'i hoatu tokolahi kotoa moe ongo fonua ko'eni, he 'ikai te tau ofiofi atu ki he mafi 'o Initonesia.

    'Oku 'Ikai fai hano fakasi'ia e palopalema 'oku tofanga ai he kainga West Papau. Ka ne tonu ke tau nofo pe ki he taumu'a 'oe fakataha, kae fai ha fokotu'u atu ki he UN ke fai ha toe fakataha kehe ke taumu'a 'aki e palopalema 'o West Papua.

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  • halatoa
    halatoa Thursday, 29 September 2016 18:56 Comment Link

    Ko e mea foki he koe kau taki ia fisi haamoa mo kilipati koe kakai ngaue. ko hotau taki koe talu e tupu moe ngutulau pea tetau lele fakangutulau pe. fai mo voutii ke alu ki api o hoko atu kiai e ngutulau

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  • Mark Hanson
    Mark Hanson Thursday, 29 September 2016 15:24 Comment Link

    Mou fakatokanga'i 'oku 'ikai kau e taki 'o Fisi, Ha'amoa mo Kilipati he kau fakafetau ki Initonisia. Nau poto foki nautolu 'o fakamoleki honau taimi he UN he feinga ha me'a ke tokoni ki honau ngaahi fonua. Kae tu'u atu e fanga ki'i fonua pakupaku, ta'emaau, ta'emahino ko ena koe fie pole tau atu ki 'Initonisia 'oku lau miliona honau kakai. Kuo hiki hake a Kilipati ia 'o levolo tatau mo Fisi mo Ha'amoa kae toho hifo 'e 'akilisi ia 'a Tonga ni ke kalasi fakataha mo Nauru, Masolo, Tuvalu, Solomone mo Vanuatu. Koe levolo ma'ulalo taha eni kuo hifo ki ai a Tonga ni, pea 'oku 'asi ia he ako moe ngaahi langa fakalakalaka he fonua. 'Oku tau 'alu fakaholomui.

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  • fieilo
    fieilo Wednesday, 28 September 2016 22:13 Comment Link

    Nounou tahaa ke 'ave ha kau sotia mo ha kau polisi 'a e ngaahi fonua Pasifiki 'oku nau faka'ofa'ia he kau West Papua. Ko 'enau misiona ke kapusi e kau 'Initonisia, he koe anga ia 'o e faka'ofa'ia mo'oni, kae nounou. Katau sio ange pe ko fee fonua 'e kei faka'ofa'ia.
    Koia ai kole leva Palemia ki he Tu'i ke 'omi ha toko 20 mei he'ene "Kau Tau." Pea ke tu'utu'uni ki he Minisita Polisi ke 'omi moha toko 20 Polisi, pea fakataha'i mo e ni'ihi 'oku faka'ofa'ia 'i West Papua kenau lava atu mo kinautolu 'o tau moe kau sotia 'Initonisia.
    Pea ka hili e fo'i misiona, pea fakamanatu atu ai pe kia Peter O'Neill (PM 'o PNG) ke fai aa mo 'omai e US$35 miliona, he 'oku kei tali atu e fakalelei 'o Teufaiva ki ai. Koe anga pe sio.

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  • Puamau Leone
    Puamau Leone Wednesday, 28 September 2016 16:53 Comment Link

    Kuo 2 e fekihiaki, talaatu ehe kau taki fonua pasifiki oku iai e fakaeahaua, fakahalaki mai ia e Indonesia. Ko Akilisi ena nae lea he UN e ha'u o alu ke sio tonu, pea foki mai ia o teke a Semisi Fakahau ke alu, toki ta'emamohe koe Semisi he ilifia he ai ke alu pea nae ikai lava e alu koia.
    Kae mahalo ko e me'a ia ku tonu ke fai, tui aa e teunga tau kae hopo atu Akilisi mo ene Fanau, mo e fangamokopuna, ofa vatikani mo piveni mou laka atu o vakai'i pe ko e mo'oni. Kapau ko e mo'oni pea tuku atu aa enau me'a kenau settle me'a mai koe Palemia o feinga'i ha ma'u'anga ngaue a e kakai. Tuku atu pe me'a ia a Papua ki Papua he ko e riot heni nake uki o tutu he 2011 na'e 'ikai kenau uki holo enautolu ha tokoni mai.

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  • Mark Hanson
    Mark Hanson Wednesday, 28 September 2016 16:29 Comment Link

    Te tau tu'u hake tautolu 'o faka'ofa'ia 'ihe kau Papua 'oku 'ikia hatau pikinga kae 'ikai ke tau 'uluaki 'ofa he'etau fanau hono haveki e sistemi ako 'o tu'u ta'epau mo ta'emahino ai honau kaha'u. 'Oku 'iai ha mou maheni ke kainga 'oku kau hono fakamamahi'i 'i Papua? pe ne mou a'u tonu ki Papua 'o sio hono fakamamahi'i kinautolu? "oku sai 'aupito pe 'etau 'ofa ki he kainga ko ia, kae 'uluaki feinga'i mu'a hotau ki'i fonua, 'etau ako mo 'etau fanau ke tu'u lelei pea tau toki hoko atu kihe kakai he ngaahi fonua kehe. Lolotonga 'etau palutu holo he loto pelepela kuo tau hanga atu tautolu 'o lau'i e likoliko 'ae kakai kehe.

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  • Fahina
    Fahina Wednesday, 28 September 2016 15:07 Comment Link

    Oku mahuinga e tu'u fakataha ae gaahi fonua pasifiki he issue ko'eni pea neogo oku ngali kaunoa ka oku osi mahino pe 'a e fakalongolongo a Aositelelia ia pea NZ koe uhi ko honau va fefakatau'aki pea mo Indonesia.. Ko hono mo'oni oku fu'u fakaehaua 'aupito a e Pule ko'eni oku fai e Indonesia he vahe fonua WEst Papua pea mo hono ta mo ngaohi kovi'i e kakai tu'u fonua 'o e fonua ni.. Fakamalo kia Akilisi moe kau taki oe ngaahi fonua Pasifiki he tu'u fakataha koeuhi koe tu'unga fakaofa oku 'iai hotau kainga ko'eni hono fakaehaua ehe kau Indonesia...

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  • Kaufusi
    Kaufusi Wednesday, 28 September 2016 10:58 Comment Link

    Ko e talu e lau e palopalema i West Papua mo e te'eki keu sio au pe teu lau ha fa'ahinga me'a ke mahino ai ne nau launga ki ha fa'ahinga Body 'o fekau'aki mo hono abuse kinautolu. Oku tau sio he social media oku asi e u ta oku abuse kinautolu, ka oku mou pehee oku tonu ketau falala ko ha mea 'oku mo'oni? Ka 'i he'etau faka'ofa'ia he ngaahi 'imisi 'oku 'ikai mahino pe ko e me'a mo'oni, me'a 'anefe, kuo fanau'i ai e fo'i me'a ko e LEANOA'IA. Akilisi tokotaha pe na'a ne fuofua fakapaaki e fo'i leanoa'ia he UN koeni kuo totolo e leanoa'ia he toenga e kau taki o e ngaahi fonua Pasifiki. Alu atu ee mo e lotokovi ta'e'uhinga mei Tonga ni 'o fakapipihi he pasifiki, mahino leva ai hotau tuukunga ko e kau island pe koe fakamotu. Pea ko e fielau ka hanga mai a Indonesia ia 'o fakangakau e 'u fonua leanoa'ia pea toki mo'oni leva e fakaehaua 'oku tukuaki'i ta'epau atu kiate kinautolu.
    Kataki Palemia 'o e kakai, 'uluaki settle ho'o kau Minisita, 'oku abusive ange honau 'ulungaanga 'o kinautolu he kau Indonesia koena 'oku ke tukuaki'i.

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  • Jay
    Jay Wednesday, 28 September 2016 09:10 Comment Link

    'Alu 'a e PM ia 'o launga'i 'a 'Initonesia 'i he'enau me'a ia 'a nautolu pea mo Papua kae 'ikai ke nofo hifo 'o feinga'i 'a e ngaahi palopalema 'oku lolotonga tofanga ai hotau ki'i fonua ke solova. Lolotonga e too lalo 'a e ako 'i he'ene ngaue 'i he'etau fonua kuo kapa atu ia ke tukuaki'i 'a 'Initonesia henau vaa 'a nautolu mo Papua. Pehe 'e he PM ia 'e foaki ange 'e he PM 'a Papua 'a e fu'u lau miliona ne lau ke tokoni ki he sipoti 'o e 2019 'i Tonga ni.

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