Seven member nations of the Pacific Island Forum have called on United Nations to investigate claims of Human Rights Abuse in West Papua province of Indonesia.
While Papua New Guinea which shares the same land border with West Papua maintain its stand that the issue of West Papua is for Indonesia to deal with.
Speaking during the United Nations General Assembly last week the prime ministers and presidents of Nauru, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Palau spoke with one voice for action on the reports of human right abuse.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato attended the UN meeting said on arrival in Port Moresby that PNG respects the sovereignty of Indonesia.
“So our position is that as far as West Papua or the Papua Province is concerned, they remain an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia.”
“There are institutions globally, including the UN systems, who will deal with those issues and we don’t have an issue with that, I don’t think Indonesia has an issue with that,” Pato said this week.
PNG, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands which are members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
The Free West Papua website states that it as an incredible moment in the history of West Papua.
“With all our hearts we would like to truly thank the Leaders of the Pacific, people across the Pacific and people everywhere around the world for all your support. These incredible actions at the United Nations directly reflect the increasing calls from people across the globe to support the people of occupied West Papua.”
Meanwhile, Nara Masista Rakhmatia, an official at Indonesia's permanent mission to the United Nations, in turn accused the countries of interfering with Indonesia's national sovereignty.
"Their politically motivated statements were designed to support separatist groups in the said provinces, who have consistently engaged in inciting public disorder and in conducting armed terrorist attacks.
"It is a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It is highly regrettable and dangerous for states to misuse the United Nations, including this august assembly,” ABC reported.
A former Dutch colony, West Papua has been under Indonesian rule since a controversial 1969 referendum overseen by the United Nations.
Picture source: Radio NZ.