Jakarta slams Solomons, Vanuatu over human rights

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The Solomon Islands government says it’s not in a position to respond to a warning from Indonesia’s government not to speak out about West Papua.

The Solomon Islands Special Envoy on West Papua Rex Horoi told the United Nations Assembly that Indonesia should allow UN Special Rapporteurs into West Papua.

Indonesia’s Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has urged Australia to pass on a message to Pacific island governments to not interfere in Indonesian domestic affairs.

In media comments in the past week, he pressed Canberra to rebuke Pacific states, in particular Solomon Islands, for raising Papua in global forums and inviting Papuans to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The Solomons’ envoy on West Papua, Rex Horoi, said his government won’t respond to what is effectively a media statement from Indonesia.

“Due to the fact that we have not received any formal communication on the matter either from Jakarta or from Canberra, why should we respond at this stage?

“Therefore we will not respond until we receive such communication through diplomatic channels,” he said.

Indonesia’s Ryacudu also told Australian media that it is better if Canberra delivers the warning to Pacific governments, because if it was left to him he would “twist their ears” and described Indonesia as a “sleeping tiger that can attack if disturbed”.

However Horoi said Pacific countries raised Papua in global fora because “West Papuans lives matter”.

“We speak collectively on abuse and human rights violations in West Papua because we have received reliable sources of information,” he explained, “And therefore that is the collective concern of the civil society, public and governments of the region.”

Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed having discussed West Papua last week with the Indonesian Defence Minister, but wouldn’t be pressed on whether Canberra will pass the warning on.

Indonesia strongly rejected statements about West Papua by Vanuatu and Solomon Islands at the UN Human Rights Council session last week.

Delegates of the two Pacific islands’ countries accused Indonesia of failing to prevent ongoing human rights abuses against West Papuans.

But Indonesia’s delegate at the session, Michael Tene, said Vanuatu and Solomon Islands’ statements showed a lack of understanding of Papua.

He said they were politically motivated in support of separatist groups which incite public disorder and terrorist attacks against civilians and security personnel.

“Indonesia as a democratic country is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including by taking necessary steps to address the allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Papua,” he said.

“No one is perfect. We are always open to have dialogue on human rights issues, but we reject politicisation of these issues. We deplore the way Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have abused this council and the universal principles of the promotion and protection of human rights by supporting the cause of separatism.

He also described Vanuatu and Solomon Islands as being far from perfect on protection of human rights.

He said the two countries still face serious human rights problems, have rampant corruption in all segments of society and government, human trafficking, mistreatment of children and daily abuse of women.

“It would be for the betterment of their populations if the governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu give attention and priority to seriously address their respective own domestic human rights shortcomings.”

- RNZI/PNC