Denies Allegations Of Human Rights Violations Papua, Indonesia: When Teachers, Health Workers Are Killed, Vanuatu Closes Eyes

Third Secretary of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, Sindy Nur Fitri, responding to the accusations of Vanuatu PM. (Screenshot of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs YouTube channel)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is shocked, regrets, and rejects the accusations made by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, regarding issues surrounding Human Rights (HAM) in Papua which were presented at the 76th UN General Assembly Session.

Vanuatu PM Bob Loughman in his virtual speech said that human rights violations are still happening everywhere, including in Papua. He also asked Indonesia to allow the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Papua and conduct an independent assessment.

"In my territory, the indigenous people of West Papua continue to suffer human rights violations. We call on Indonesia to allow the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit and conduct an independent assessment," he said on the United Nations YouTube channel as quoted on September 26.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to answer given by the chair of the session, the Third Secretary of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, Sindy Nur Fitri, firmly rejected what was conveyed by PM Vanuatu.

Sindy said she was surprised that Vanuatu continued to use the UN General Assembly forum to interfere with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and continued to carry out aggression with despicable intentions and political motives against Indonesia.

"We unequivocally reject all untrue, baseless, and misleading accusations that Vanuatu continues to maintain. These accusations create false and empty hopes, and only fuel a conflict that sadly costs many innocent lives," she said in Right of Reply Indonesia against Vanuatu's statement issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She said Vanuatu was trying to impress the world, as if this country cared about human rights issues. In reality, their version of human rights is distorted, and they don't care at all about the heinous and inhumane acts of terror carried out by armed separatist criminal groups.

"Vanuatu deliberately turned a blind eye when this armed separatist criminal group killed nurses, health workers, teachers, construction workers, and law enforcement officers. They are people who have dedicated their lives to the Papuan people," said Sindy.

"When a number of construction workers were brutally murdered, why did Vanuatu choose to remain silent? When teachers were mercilessly slaughtered, why did Vanuatu choose to remain silent? When public facilities built for the Papuan people were destroyed, why did Vanuatu, once again, choose silence?" Says Sindy.

She said that Vanuatu actually defended separatism under the guise of fabricated human rights concerns. Vanuatu constantly tries to question the status of Papua as an integral part of Indonesia which is no longer up for debate.

"This has violated the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and is contrary to the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States," she explained.

"We must not allow this kind of insult to the UN Charter to continue in this forum," said Sindy underlined.