2) OPM calls for UN action in Papua
3) NO ‘MANIPULATIVE STEPS’
4) Indonesia sends protest note to Vanuatu for smuggling separatist in delegation
5) Kopassus: Papua Armed Group Comprise Youths Seeking Attention
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1) Vanuatu refuses to back down on West Papua stance
9:13 pm on 1 February 2019
Vanuatu's foreign minister has dismissed criticism from the Indonesian government for including the United Liberation Movement (ULMWP) for West Papua in its meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
Ralph Regenvanu Photo: WikiCommons / Marke Lowen
In a statement, the Indonesian Ambassador to the UN strongly condemned Vanuatu's action, claiming the country had deliberately deceived the High Commissioner by taking manipulative steps through allowing ULMWP chair Benny Wenda to infiltrate its delegation.
However, the minister, Ralph Regenvanu, told Buzz 96FMthat his government had always maintained its support for West Papuan self-determination.
Mr Reganvanu said Vanuatu reaffirmed that commitment and celebrated the establishment of the ULMWP by hosting a meeting some years ago, as well as giving it land for an office.
The minister re-emphasised Vanuatu would assist the people of West Papua in their struggle to decolonise.
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2) OPM calls for UN action in Papua
5:09 pm on 1 February 2019
The Free West Papua Movement, or OPM, has called for United Nations intervention over conflict in Papua's Nduga regency.
West Papua Liberation Army at the issuance of a declaration of war against Indonesian security forces. Photo: Supplied
The Highlands regency is the current focal point of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua Liberation Army.
The conflict intensified after the Liberation Army massacred 17 Indonesian road construction workers late last year.
There are humanitarian concerns for thousands of Papuan villagers who have fled to the bush to avoid violence.
OPM and Liberation Army representatives yesterday held a press conference in neighbouring Papua New Guinea.
They made an urgent appeal to the UN secretary-general to ensure relevant UN agencies act on the crisis in Nduga.
As well they called for the UN Human Rights Council to apply scrutiny on the situation in Papua.
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3) NO ‘MANIPULATIVE STEPS’
The Government of Indonesia has criticized Vanuatu for including a West Papuan leader and the United Liberal Movement for the people of West Papua (ULMWP) chairman, Benny Wenda in its delegation to a meeting with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.
“Indonesia strongly condemns Vanuatu’s action, which deliberately deceived the High Commissioner by taking manipulative steps through the infiltration of Benny Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation,” Hasan Kleib, Indonesian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said in a press statement published on Wednesday in The Jakarta Post.
But Vanuatu's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Regenvanu has dismissed the accusations.
In a telephone interview with Buzz 96FM yesterday afternoon, Minister Regenvanu said the Government of Vanuatu has always maintain its stand and support behind the self-determination for the West Papua movement.
"Vanuatu recently reaffirmed its commitment and celebrated the establishment of the ULMWP movement by hosting a meeting here some years ago, as well as giving land for the ULMWP office," said Mr Regenvanu.
The Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that the Vanuatu government's position status remains in assisting the people of West Papua in their struggle to decolonize.
In regards to the comment made by the Indonesian government, Minister Regenvanu said one of the ways Vanuatu is doing to address this is by allowing representatives of the ULMWP movement to enter and be part of the Vanuatu delegation when attending UN meetings, and especially one where Vanuatu had a meeting with the UN Human Rights Commissioner.
"It is an opportunity for the ULMWP to raise the issue of West Papua with the UN, because essentially it is unfinished business for the UN and there are very few avenues that West Papuan people can use to bring their fight to attention or continue to bring their fight into the attention of the International Community so Vanuatu will continue to assist them in doing this,” said Minister Regenvanu.
"Vanuatu doesn't regard the West Papua movement or ULMWP as different or as a separatist movement, which is what the Indonesians has labelled and considered it as a case of territory, which is never properly decolonized by the UN," said Mr Regenvanu.
Minister Regenvanu affirmed that whenever Vanuatu has a delegation to a UN's meeting, it is a process for Vanuatu and other countries to submit an accreditation note which lists all the members of the delegation who are going be part of the official delegation.
Mr Regenvanu further confirmed that the ULMWP chairman, Benny Wenda was officially accredited in the Vanuatu delegation to the UN meeting.
The sequence of events leading up to Indonesia’s recent criticism are covered in an article by the Associated Press (AP): “Activists in Indonesia's mountainous jungle-clad Papua region risked imprisonment to collect 1.8 million signatures for a petition calling for self-determination but had a final dilemma: They were blocked from presenting it to the intended recipient, the United Nations.
“An attempt to present the petition in 2017 to the U.N. committee responsible for monitoring the progress of colonized territories toward independence was rebuffed.
“Last week they succeeded, aided by the diplomatic equivalent of a wink and a nod from the tiny Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which has been championing the Papuan cause.
“Vanuatu officials had a scheduled meeting last Friday in Geneva with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“Among them was an exiled Papuan leader, Benny Wenda, who presented a petition with 1.8 million signatures calling for self-determinationto Bachelet.
"During this meeting, one member of the Vanuatu delegation, Mr. Benny Wenda, presented the high commissioner with a petition. This was not actually a meeting arranged with Mr. Wenda for that purpose," said Ravina Shamdasani, deputy spokeswoman at the U.N. Human Rights Office.
According to The Associated Press report, the deputy spokeswoman said Bachelet "was not aware" in advance.
The ULMWP sent The Associated Press a photo of Wenda passing the petition to a smiling Bachelet.
It was then that Indonesia reacted angrily, accusing Vanuatu of "taking manipulative steps through the infiltration of Benny Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation."
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4) Indonesia sends protest note to Vanuatu for smuggling separatist in delegation
Reporter: Antara 31st January 2019
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Government has sent a note of protest to the Government of Vanuatu for smuggling Papuan separatist Benny Wenda into the South Pacific nation`s delegation while meeting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet Jeria.
The note of protest was sent because Vanuatu was considered not respecting the Indonesian sovereignty by supporting the Papua separatist movement, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said here on Thursday.
"The reason for protest is because an international basic principle has been violated (by Vanuatu). We affirm that we will not back off when it concerns the country`s sovereignty," Marsudi told the press following a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR).
The Vanuatu Government had no good intention by smuggling Wenda in its delegation while meeting with the UN High Commissioner.
The minister stated that Wenda used patterns of manipulative means and fake news.
Hasan Kleib, Indonesian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, in a press statement on Wednesday slammed Vanuatu for deceiving Jeria.
"Indonesia strongly condemns Vanuatu`s action, which deliberately deceived the High Commissioner by taking manipulative steps through the infiltration of Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation," Kleib remarked.
Wenda presented to Jeria a petition demanding an independence referendum of Indonesia`s easternmost province of Papua.
The meeting was actually on Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It was unrelated to the petition and had not been arranged by the UN.
"During this meeting, Wenda presented the high commissioner with a petition. This was not actually a meeting arranged with Mr. Wenda for that purpose," said Ravina Shamdasani, deputy spokeswoman at the UN Human Rights Office, as quoted by the foreign media.
"Jeria was not aware" in advance, she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament`s Commission I Satya Widya Yudha condemned Vanuatu for smuggling Wenda into its delegation.
"That shows that Vanuatu has disrespected Indonesia," Yudha noted.
Reporting by Yashinta DP, fardah
The note of protest was sent because Vanuatu was considered not respecting the Indonesian sovereignty by supporting the Papua separatist movement, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said here on Thursday.
"The reason for protest is because an international basic principle has been violated (by Vanuatu). We affirm that we will not back off when it concerns the country`s sovereignty," Marsudi told the press following a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR).
The Vanuatu Government had no good intention by smuggling Wenda in its delegation while meeting with the UN High Commissioner.
The minister stated that Wenda used patterns of manipulative means and fake news.
Hasan Kleib, Indonesian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, in a press statement on Wednesday slammed Vanuatu for deceiving Jeria.
"Indonesia strongly condemns Vanuatu`s action, which deliberately deceived the High Commissioner by taking manipulative steps through the infiltration of Wenda into the Vanuatu delegation," Kleib remarked.
Wenda presented to Jeria a petition demanding an independence referendum of Indonesia`s easternmost province of Papua.
The meeting was actually on Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It was unrelated to the petition and had not been arranged by the UN.
"During this meeting, Wenda presented the high commissioner with a petition. This was not actually a meeting arranged with Mr. Wenda for that purpose," said Ravina Shamdasani, deputy spokeswoman at the UN Human Rights Office, as quoted by the foreign media.
"Jeria was not aware" in advance, she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament`s Commission I Satya Widya Yudha condemned Vanuatu for smuggling Wenda into its delegation.
"That shows that Vanuatu has disrespected Indonesia," Yudha noted.
Reporting by Yashinta DP, fardah
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