Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa summoned British Ambassador to Indonesia Mark Canning on Monday and filed a diplomatic protest against the British government over the recent opening of a Free West Papua (OPM) office
in Oxford.

'€œThis incident is not consistent with what the British government has repeatedly stated in past years about respecting Indonesia'€™s sovereignty,'€ Marty said after his meeting with Canning as quoted by Antara news agency.

The Indonesian government was visibly incensed by the Mayor of Oxford, Mohammed Abbasi, member of the UK parliament from Oxford Andrew Smith and former mayor Elise Benjamin, who reportedly attended the opening ceremony of the OPM office in Oxford earlier this month.

With the move, the British government was perceived as giving support to the call for Papua'€™s independence.

Papuans living in exile set up the office in Oxford last week as part of their 44-year campaign to separate the former Dutch colony from Indonesia.

In a previous statement, Marty said that the Indonesian government strongly objected to the opening of the so-called OPM office and asked the British government to be consistent in its policy of not supporting any action related to the separatist movement in Papua and West Papua provinces.

After Monday'€™s meeting, Canning said he explained to Marty that the UK recognized the sensitivity of this issue for Indonesia.

He said that the British government respected the territorial integrity of Indonesia and did not support calls for Papuan independence.

'€œWe regard Papua as a part of Indonesia. That has always been our view, and this recent development, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the British government, does nothing to change that. We also support the effort of those, like the Presidential Delivery Unit (UKP4), who are trying to address the problems of Papua and hope to see it enjoy the same level of peace, stability and prosperity as the other parts of this nation. I made these points to Papua governor Lukas Enembe when we met last week,'€ he said in a press release.

Also on Monday, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman accused the OPM of having capitalized on support from international human rights groups.

'€œThe political front of the OPM has for a long time been based in Oxford. We know that. Benny Wenda, its leader, has continued to run his operation from there because he feels that he has support from some figures,'€ Marciano said at
the State Palace.

Marciano said that Benny'€™s group had switched to getting support from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) after no governments formally supported their movement.

'€œThe group has also utilized international NGOs and other groups that support such separatist groups. The group exists wherever these types of NGOs exist. But I don'€™t think any government has given them support. I believe that the British government as well as Indonesia'€™s Foreign Ministry have taken the necessary and proportional measures,'€ Marciano said.

Separately, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said that the legislative body was deeply disappointed with the British parliament, whose members supported the OPM in Oxford.

'€œI think the UK has meddled with Indonesia'€™s affairs too much. I would like to remind the UK government that they also have issues with Northern Ireland. I don'€™t think they would be happy if Indonesia hosted an office for the IRA [Irish Republican Army] or encouraged Northern Ireland separatist sentiments. Therefore, please show some respect,'€ Priyo said.

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