H.E. Mr. Baron Divavesi
Waqa, President
21 September 2016
“Nauru
is deeply concerned regarding the situation in West
Papua, including the alleged human rights abuses. As
emphasized in the Pacific Islands Forum Communique,
it is important that there be an open and constructive
dialogue with Indonesia on this matter.”[1]
“Given the importance
of human rights to my country I request that the UN
Human Rights Council initiate a credible and independent
investigation of alleged human rights violations in
West Papua.”[2]
H.E.
Mr. Enele
Sosene Sopoanga, Prime Minister
23 September 2016
“In
the same vein, the principle of self-determination must
also be respected and honored. The violation of human
rights in West Papua and their desire to achieve self-determination
is a reality. This great body cannot and must not ignore
these deplorable situations, it must not hide behind
the guise of the principles of non-interference and
sovereignty. The UN must act on this issue and find
a workable solution to give autonomy to the Indigenous
Peoples of West Papua.”[3]
H.E. Mr. Manasseh Sogavare,
Prime Minister
23 September 2016
“Solomon
Islands is gravely concerned about the human rights
violations against Melanesians in West Papua. Human
rights violations in West Papua and the pursuit for
self-determination of West Papua are two sides of the
same coin. Many reports on human rights violations in
West Papua emphasize the inherent corroboration between
the right to self-determination that results in direct
violations of human rights by Indonesia in its attempts
to smother any form of opposition. The principle of
sovereignty is paramount in any institution whose core
rationale is the respect for sovereignty. If the justification
of sovereignty rests on a series of decisions that are
questionable, then there is a case to challenge the
legality of the argument of sovereignty as is the case
of the New York Agreement and the Act of Free Choice.
Solomon Islands adds its' voice to those of other member
countries and civil society organizations who are concerned
about human rights violations in the Papua and West
Papua regions of Indonesia. As the chair of the Melanesian
Spearhead Group that includes Indonesia as an associate
member and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua
as an observer, Solomon Islands affirms the need for
constructive engagement with Indonesia and looks forward
to cooperating with Indonesia to address the violations
of human rights in West Papua.”[4]
H.E. Mr. Charlot Salwai
Tabimasmas, Prime Minister
23 September 2016
“The problems of human
rights in West Papua remain outstanding. I still
stand on the podium as did my predecessors, with the
same moral convictions, urging the United Nations to
take concrete steps to resolve this issue and my colleague
leaders to support advocacy for West Papuans. The
United Nations must not turn a blind eye to human rights
abuses in the province of West Papua. The people
of West Papua turn to the United Nations for a glimmer
of hope, a hope for freedom in the exercise of their
rights on their own land to freely assert their identity.[5]
H.E. Mr. Samiuela ‘Akilisi
Pohiva, Prime Minister
24 September 2016
“We
express for the welfare of the Pacific peoples that
are residents and citizens in the province of Western
Papua, Indonesia. Last year, on this same podium, I
stood here and spoke about human rights abuses taking
place in Indonesia-ruled West Papua. In the year that
has passed, nothing appears to have changed in that
place. I use the word ‘appease’ intentionally
because now we still have no way of knowing exactly
what is going on in that place. Probably something is
definitely wrong.… Tonga supports the call for
an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia regarding
the status and welfare of the people of West Papua.”[7]
Nara Masista Rakhmatia, Official
of Indonesia’s Permanent Mission to the United
Nations
24 September 2016
Rakhmatia spoke in response
to statements made by Pacific nations regarding West
Papua. According to website of the General Debate of
the 71st Session, she “rejected
the insinuating statements they had made, which reflected
an unfortunate lack of understanding of history and
progressive developments in Indonesia, including in
the provinces of Papua and West Papua.”[8]
She stated that their statements were politically motivated
and “designed to support separatist groups which
had engaged in inciting public disorder and armed attacks
on civilians and military personnel.”[9]
Rakhmatia also lamented that the actions of the Pacific
nations to use the United Nations to advance their agendas
and deter attention from domestic problems were dangerous
moves. She emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to
protecting human rights; it was a founding member
of the Human Rights Council and had begun the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation’s Commission on Human Rights. “Domestic
mechanisms were in place at the provincial levels in
Papua and West Papua, and Indonesia would give focus
to the development of those provinces and to the best
interests of all.”[10]
In response to Indonesia’s
Right of Reply, the representative of the Solomon Islands
cited ongoing human rights abuses that Indonesia has
inflicted on Melanesian people in West Papua. He acknowledged
efforts by Indonesia to establish human rights means,
including its ratification of the Convention against
Torture, however, he said Indonesia has not defined
torture nor attempted to exterminate it. He asks how
the United Nations could allow violations against the
people of West Papua over the last 50 years. According
to the website, “The Organization must find a
way to stop the loss of life and Member States must
agree on certain rights and be accountable for them.
The United Nations had a responsibility to protect all
people from human rights violations and should also
hold other Member States accountable, he added.”[11]
“The
representative of Indonesia said that allegations by
the Solomon Islands of human rights violations against
Melanesians were intended to support the separatist
movement. They went against the principles and
purpose of the United Nations Charter by violating the
internal affairs and sovereignty of other States.
The allegations arose from ignorance of the facts on
the ground and were “trash information”
from separatist groups.”[12]
