The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean. Since 2016, every year they routinely target Indonesia with human rights violations of the Papuan people because feeling ethnic closeness to Papua, Vanuatu also voiced the issue of Papua at the United Nations. Vanuatu again raised the issue of Papua on the agenda of the UN session, Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman Weibur accused West Papuans of continuing to suffer human rights violations an independent assessment, at the 76th UN General Assembly.
Sindy Nur Fitri, Third Secretary at PTRI New York as the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Vanuatu had made false, baseless and even false accusations related to Human Rights (HAM) which were said to have been violated in Papua. Vanuatu was using the Papua issue for domestic political interests purposes which makes Vanuatu’s Attitude difficult to change. On the other hand, many countries in the world, including countries in the Pacific, want to be friendly and have good relations with Indonesia.
In reality, Human rights that Vanuatu continues promote regarding Papua are twisted because Vanuatu seems to be turning blind eye to acts of terror carried out by armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua which clearly violate human rights. People who really dedicate themselves to the people of Papua. Not only that, the KKB has also damaged number of public facilities that were deliberately built by the government for the welfare of the Papuan people. Vanuatu has repeatedly tried to question the status of Papua, even though this should no longer be questioned because Papua is part of Indonesia. This of course violates the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter and contrary to the Declaration of Principles of International Law on Friendly Relations and Cooperation Between Countries.
Moreover, Indonesia as country is pluralistic country with a dynamic democracy and respects the rule of law, good governance, and social justice. So, all our citizens are treated equally regardless of their socio-cultural, religious or economic background.
REFERENCES
(Emir Yanwardhana, 2021) https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20210926110329-4-279213/heboh-vanuatu-serang-ri-di-pbb-teriak-teriak-soal-papua
(CNN Indonesia, 2021) https://voi.id/en/news/88629/vanuatu-often-talks-about-papuan-issues-spokesperson-for-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-for-their-domestic-political-interests
(Ahmad Fauzi Lyabu, 2021) https://voi.id/en/news/88629/vanuatu-often-talks-about-papuan-issues-spokesperson-for-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-for-their-domestic-political-interests