The Australian government has denied any involvement in a regional forum supporting the independence of West Papua from Indonesia that was held in Canberra on Tuesday, saying it remains committed to the archipelago’s territorial integrity.

The meeting was organized by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, and was scheduled to be attended by legislators and officials from a number of countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

“Australia is fully committed to Indonesia’s territorial integrity and national unity, including its sovereignty over the Papua provinces. This is a fundamental obligation of the Lombok Treaty between Australia and Indonesia,” the Embassy of Australia in Jakarta said in a press statement on Tuesday.

“The meeting being held by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua on Tuesday in Canberra does not represent the views of the Australian Government.”

The embassy added that despite some Australian legislators’ involvement in the meeting, supporting the Papuan independence cause was not part of Australia’s foreign policy, which is determined by the government.

“And in relation to Indonesia, the Lombok Treaty has the support of the largest parties in the Australian parliament,” the embassy said.

The Lombok Treaty is a security agreement between Indonesia and Australia put into effect in February 2008. It covers a number of areas, including defense cooperation, intelligence and maritime security, and has further strengthened the bilateral relations between the two neighbors.

Radio New Zealand International earlier reported that the Tuesday meeting in Canberra was aimed as an official launch of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua group in Australia.

New Zealand Green Party lawmaker Katherine Delahunty, who attended the event, was quoted by the radio as saying that building the regional network was essential for parliamentarians who wanted to assist in forging a solution to Papua’s “deteriorating human rights situation.”

“Because if the International Parliamentarians want to take legal issues, for example, to the United Nations, it’s very important that the solidarity and support of governments in Melanesia, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand show solidarity.

“So we have work to do in our own countries, we have work to do with each other, to make this body truly more effective. It’s difficult to do it when there isn’t actually strong connections between the actual countries closest to West Papua,” Delahunty said.

JG

Australian Embassy Jakarta

http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR12_009.html

Media Release

28 February 2012

Statement

Australia supports Indonesia’s territorial integrity

Australia is fully committed to Indonesia's territorial integrity and national unity, including its sovereignty over the Papua provinces. This is a fundamental obligation of the Lombok Treaty between Australia and Indonesia.

The meeting being held by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua on Tuesday in Canberra does not represent the views of the Australian Government.

In Australia’s system of government, foreign policy is determined by the Government. And in relation to Indonesia, the Lombok Treaty has the support of the largest parties in the Australian parliament.

Australia and Indonesia are strategic partners and our relations today are healthy and strong. As Indonesia continues its remarkable transformation, Australia is working to contribute towards the nation’s progress.

Media Enquiries: Ray Marcelo Counsellor (Public Affairs) 
Tel: +62 21 2550 5290 
HP: +62 811 187 3175 

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