Vanuatu Often Talks About Papuan Issues, Spokesperson For The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: For Their Domestic Political Interests

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah (Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Vanuatu has again addressed the issue of Papua on the agenda of the UN session. This time, PM Vanuatu conveyed allegations of human rights violations in Papua and asked Indonesia to allow the United Nations to come and conduct an independent assessment, at the 76th UN General Assembly.

This is not the first time the country in the Pacific Ocean region has interfered with human rights issues in Papua. A spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Vanuatu was using the Papua issue for political purposes.

"Vanuatu is the only country that uses the Papua issue for its domestic political interests. Indonesia has severely restricted relations with this country," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah to VOI, Sunday, September 26.

"Because it is associated with domestic political interests, Vanuatu's attitude will be difficult to change. On the other hand, many countries in the world, including countries in the Pacific, want to be friendly and have good relations with Indonesia. good," he said.

Previously reported, Vanuatu PM Bob Loughman in his virtual speech said that human rights violations still occur 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.