The Jakarta Post, 7/1/2004 5:47:10 PM
Vanuatu to host talks between Jakarta and Papua rebels
PORT VILA (AFP): Vanuatu will host peace talks between Indonesia and separatist
rebels in Papua next month, officials said on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Moana Kalosil said Vanuatu wanted to offer both sides a neutral
venue to try to resolve the dispute, which has been simmering for more than 40 years.
"When there has been conflict in our own communities we bring the two parties to the
nakamal (village meeting house) to drink kava (a traditional intoxicating herb-based
drink) and resolve the issue," Kalosil told AFP.
"Since the Papuans are our Melanesian brothers we wanted to offer to facilitate
face-to-face talks between them and the Indonesian government in a neutral
environment."
The talks, to be held in Port Vila between July 26-28, are seen as a tacit admission
by Jakarta that the West Papua situation needs international mediation.
An offer by New Zealand to broker talks last year was rebuffed as Jakarta insisted the
issue was a domestic matter that would be settled internally.
"Apart from agreeing to peace talks, the Indonesians have offered to increase trade
between our two countries, speed up immigration procedures and offer technical
assistance," Kalosil said.
The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has been fighting a sporadic and low-level guerrilla
war since Indonesia in 1963 took over the huge mountainous and undeveloped territory
from Dutch colonizers.
U.S. authorities last week charged OPM leader Anthonius Waman with the killing of
two Americans in Papua province almost two years ago.
He was charged last week in the United States and faces the death penalty if caught
and convicted. (***)
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