TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

House reminds British legislators to take hands off Papua

The House of Representatives urged the government to officially ask the United Kingdom to not interfere with affairs in Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost province

Margareth S.Aritonang (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, May 6, 2013 Published on May. 6, 2013 Published on 2013-05-06T18:03:05+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

T

he House of Representatives urged the government to officially ask the United Kingdom to not interfere with affairs in Papua, Indonesia'€™s easternmost province.

House deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said that Indonesia'€™s legislature was deeply disappointed with the British parliament, whose members supported the Separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) in Oxford.

"I think the UK has interfered too much with Indonesia's affairs. I would like to remind the UK government that they also have issues with Northern Ireland. I suppose they would not be happy if Indonesia encouraged Northern Ireland separatist sentiments. Therefore, please show some respect," Priyo said at his office on Monday.

Protests against the UK have been mounting since late last week as Oxford's mayor and a member of the UK parliament reportedly attended a ceremony to set up an OPM office in Oxford that was arranged by UK-based Papuan exile Benny Wenda.

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa summoned British ambassador to Indonesia Mark Canning on Monday to further discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, newly elected Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is also expected to meet with House leaders today to discuss separatist sentiments in the province, particularly following the opening of the OPM office in Oxford.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.