Solomon Islands PM Raises Papua Human Rights Concerns, Indonesia Responds

New York, MINA – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale raised concerns over human rights issues in Papua, Indonesia, during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

Wale called for independent verification of the situation and urged Indonesia to facilitate a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Papua.

He said human rights issues in Papua deserve greater attention from the international community and called for broader access for UN human rights mechanisms to obtain first-hand information about conditions in the region.

The remarks drew a response from Sukamta, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Commission I. He said the Solomon Islands’ presentation of the Papua issue did not reflect the situation in its entirety and urged the country to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty and applicable international law.

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Sukamta also highlighted ongoing armed violence in parts of Papua, saying that such violence has affected civilians, including teachers, health workers and children. He stressed that protecting civilians should remain a priority in addressing the situation in Papua.

The issue of access for UN human rights bodies to Papua has previously drawn attention from several Pacific countries.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has called on Indonesia to facilitate a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Papua. Meanwhile, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), in a previous communiqué, continued to recognize Indonesia’s sovereignty over Papua and encouraged the resolution of issues through dialogue.

Sukamta said Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives remains open to parliamentary diplomacy with Pacific countries, including the Solomon Islands, to discuss the Papua issue directly.

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He said communication between institutions is necessary to ensure that information regarding conditions among communities, development, law enforcement and human rights protection in Papua can be presented in a balanced manner.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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