Pacific Islands Report, Wed May 25 07:41:43 UTC+0200 2005
Indonesian ambassador meets protest in Vanuatu
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, May 24) Vanuatu s
Prime Minister has blamed "foreign elements" for an incident last week where the
Indonesian flag on the vehicle of Jakarta s ambassador to Port Vila was replaced with
the Papuan independence flag.
Ambassador Imron Cotanhas used his visit to Vanuatu to suggest Indonesia become
a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Mr Cotanhas says that with 12million Melanesians in Indonesia, it s only logical for
his country to be included in the MSG.
But the suggestion may be unpopular in a country that has long supported the
struggle for independence by their Melanesian cousins in Indonesia s Papua province.
However, Vanuatu prime minister Ham Lini has come out very clearly as saying
foreign elements instigated last Thursday s incident.
The protestors of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Movement accosted the Indonesian
ambassador s car, removed the Indonesian flag from the car, gave it back to the
ambassador and told him they do not want the Indonesia flag but the West Papua
flag, and draped the flag over Indonesian ambassador s car.
May 25, 2005
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