The Jakarta Post, April 28, 2006
Media needs access to Papua: Skogrand
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia should not bar the international community and media from visiting Papua
to counter one-sided reporting on alleged human rights abuses in the resource-rich
province, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Kjetil Skogrand says.
"There might be reasons for concern about the situation in Papua. However, as long
as the international press is not allowed to visit the area, it is difficult to assess the
situation," he told The Jakarta Post during the Norway-Indonesia dialog on human
rights Thursday.
Skogrand said that he would like to see the possibility of the international community
and international press visiting Papua to assess the situation.
However, he reiterated his country's position on Indonesia's territorial integrity.
"Norway supports the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We do not support any forces of
separation," he said.
Indonesia has been accused of committing human rights violations in Papua by
several international human rights groups and individuals. Jakarta has repeatedly
denied such accusations, saying that some international groups and elements of
society in several countries want to see Papua separated from Indonesia like the new
state Timor Leste.
In an effort to curb foreign interference in Papuan affairs, the government has limited
the entry of foreigners to the province, the scene of a sporadic and low-level separatist
revolt.
The issue of human rights violations in the province emerged again after 43 Papuans,
who arrived in Australia in January to seek asylum accused Indonesia of genocide.
The Australian government granted temporary visas to 42 of them in March.
An angry Jakarta recalled its ambassador T.M. Hamzah Thayeb on March 24 while
some nationalists, who were enraged by Australia's decision, called for severance of
ties.
The incident is the worst in bilateral relations since 1999, when Australia led
peacekeeping troops into the then-Indonesian province of East Timor to halt violence
by pro-Jakarta militias following the territory's vote for independence.
Many Indonesians, including several members of the House of Representatives,
accused Australia of aiding the pro-independence movement to enable Papua to
secede from Indonesia.
Beside statements of denial, Jakarta, however, has made no real move, such as
fact-finding activities, to prove that the accusations of genocide and human rights
violations are baseless.
The Papua issue aside, Skogrand praised Indonesia for having made much progress
in upholding human rights principles.
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