ABC AUSTRALIA, 02/04/2003 12:24:30
Papua causes tensions between Jakarta and Vanuatu
Indonesia has threatened to review diplomatic ties with Vanuatu over the issue of
independence for Papua province -- formerly known as Irian Jaya.
The Indonesian embassy in Canberra has asked the Vanuatu government to explain
the establishment of a Papuan People's office in Port Vila.
It has issued a statement overnight saying it's an alarming development.
Indonesia's charge d'affairs Imron Cotan says he wants to be sure Vanuatu is not
formally recognising Papua's independence:
He says, "They think that Vanuatu's people came originally from Papua so that gives
them the right to liberate Papua."
"You know what? Indonesians believe that they came from Vietnam. That doesn't give
us any right to liberate Vietnam."
02/04/2003 12:24:30 | ABC Radio Australia News
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