Activists Criticize Indonesia's Response to Papua Human Rights Abuses at UN General Assembly
Jakarta. Activists have criticized Indonesia's weak diplomacy efforts at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept.13-26, where member states from the Pacific voiced concerns over the country's human rights record in Papua.
At the conference, leaders from Pacific countries - Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu — urged for a resolution to human rights abuse cases in Papua.
Reiterating its commitment to upholding human rights, Indonesia dismissed the allegations, saying they were based on a lack of understanding on the current developments in Papua.
According to Ray Rangkuti, executive director of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle, or Lima, the government's response was nothing more than mere "rhetoric."
"Explain to what extent the revelations by the countries are true. If there are human rights abuses, explain what has been done to resolve them," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/10).
Responding to calls by the Pacific nations for self-determination in Papua, Indonesia said they were politically motivated and accused the countries of undermining its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"The response did not answer the substance of the criticism. It did not explain what has been done over the situation in Papua," Ray said.
Saying Indonesia's response was only based on "arrogance," human rights advocate and Catholic priest Benny Susetyo urged the government to improve its diplomacy efforts.
"We should not undermine such countries. Persuasion should be put forward instead. We should build constructive dialogue with them," he said.
"If we could not embrace the countries, Papua could break free."
Activists have long raised concerns over allegations of rampant human rights abuses in the province, where the Free Papua Movement, or OPM, has mounted an insurgency for decades.
It has complained that the central government has given the resource-rich region an unfair share of state wealth after Papua became part of Indonesia in 1969.
The OPM has since pleaded for international support from the Melanesian community in the Pacific.
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