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Pressing issues: Papua Governor Lukas Enembe (right) and Papuan People’s Assembly chairman Timotius Murip listen as they meet with House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso in Jakarta on Monday. They discussed the establishment of a free Papua office in Oxford, Britain and an extended autonomy scheme for Papua proposed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Antara/Andika Wahyu
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa summoned
British Ambassador to Indonesia Mark Canning on Monday and filed a
diplomatic protest against the British government over the recent
opening of a Free West Papua (OPM) office
in Oxford.
“This incident is not consistent with what the British government has
repeatedly stated in past years about respecting Indonesia’s
sovereignty,” Marty said after his meeting with Canning as quoted by
Antara news agency.
The Indonesian government was visibly
incensed by the Mayor of Oxford, Mohammed Abbasi, member of the UK
parliament from Oxford Andrew Smith and former mayor Elise Benjamin, who
reportedly attended the opening ceremony of the OPM office in Oxford
earlier this month.
With the move, the British government was perceived as giving support to the call for Papua’s independence.
Papuans
living in exile set up the office in Oxford last week as part of their
44-year campaign to separate the former Dutch colony from Indonesia.
In
a previous statement, Marty said that the Indonesian government
strongly objected to the opening of the so-called OPM office and asked
the British government to be consistent in its policy of not supporting
any action related to the separatist movement in Papua and West Papua
provinces.
After Monday’s meeting, Canning said he explained to Marty that the UK recognized the sensitivity of this issue for Indonesia.
He
said that the British government respected the territorial integrity of
Indonesia and did not support calls for Papuan independence.
“We
regard Papua as a part of Indonesia. That has always been our view, and
this recent development, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the
British government, does nothing to change that. We also support the
effort of those, like the Presidential Delivery Unit (UKP4), who are
trying to address the problems of Papua and hope to see it enjoy the
same level of peace, stability and prosperity as the other parts of this
nation. I made these points to Papua governor Lukas Enembe when we met
last week,” he said in a press release.
Also on Monday, State
Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman accused the OPM
of having capitalized on support from international human rights
groups.
“The political front of the OPM has for a long time been
based in Oxford. We know that. Benny Wenda, its leader, has continued to
run his operation from there because he feels that he has support from
some figures,” Marciano said at
the State Palace.
Marciano
said that Benny’s group had switched to getting support from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) after no governments formally
supported their movement.
“The group has also utilized
international NGOs and other groups that support such separatist groups.
The group exists wherever these types of NGOs exist. But I don’t think
any government has given them support. I believe that the British
government as well as Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry have taken the
necessary and proportional measures,” Marciano said.
Separately,
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said that the
legislative body was deeply disappointed with the British parliament,
whose members supported the OPM in Oxford.
“I think the UK has
meddled with Indonesia’s affairs too much. I would like to remind the UK
government that they also have issues with Northern Ireland. I don’t
think they would be happy if Indonesia hosted an office for the IRA
[Irish Republican Army] or encouraged Northern Ireland separatist
sentiments. Therefore, please show some respect,” Priyo said.