Behind the Maneuver of Indonesian Diplomacy

Indonesian government's efforts to attract the sympathy of small countries in the South Pacific region in order to quell the Free Papua separatist movement, seems to still give a dissatisfying result. Indonesian diplomacy is to strengthen the role of Indonesia in the South Pacific following the expansion of Papua liberation movement or the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in the region. Papua liberation movement has established an office in Vanuatu, Solomon as well as in several cities in Papua, such as in Wamena, Jayawijaya.

The government realizes that it needs to establish relations with the countries in the region, not only to repair relationships that are not good in the past, but also to raise the awareness that the region brings impact to Papua.  

Some countries in the South Pacific support Papua liberation movement by raising the issue of human rights violations (HAM) blamed to the security forces. Those small countries in the region even called for the United Nations (UN) in order to intervene the violations of human rights and self-determination for Papua. The Indonesian government was asked to give permission and open the widest access to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, and the Special Rapporteur on Anti Torture to conduct an independent investigation on the situation in Papua.

Six heads of government in the Pacific region, namely the President of the Republic of Nauru, Baron Divavesi Waqa; President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda C. Heine, the Prime Minister (PM) of Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas; Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare; Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Enele Sosene Sopoaga and Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva Samiuela had called for independence of Papua when addressing speech on the 71st UN general assembly in New York as Indonesia is accused of human rights violations in the region. According to those six countries, the Papua region is part of a clump of Melanesia, which is also a part of them, so it is not possible for them to let Papua in trouble, especially regarding human rights violations.

However, Indonesia as a sovereign state certainly cannot accept the allegations. Papua is a legitimate and integral part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) which should be kept and maintained its existence.
 
Responding to the speech of the six heads of Pacific states, Indonesia through its spokesman, a young diplomat Nara Masista Rakhmatia lodged an official protest. She said Indonesia was surprised to hear such thing in a very essential event where leaders met to discuss initial implementation of SDGs, the transformation of our collective actions and other global challenges such as climate change, in which the Pacific countries will be the most affected region. Those leaders instead chose to violate the UN charter by intervening the sovereignty of other countries and violate its territorial integrity. They truly reflect the ignorance of the history, current situation, and the progressive development in Indonesia, including in Papua and West Papua, as well as unfriendly and rhetorical political maneuvering. That political expression was designed to support separatist groups in the provinces that are so eager to disturb public order and stage terrorism attacks against civilians and security forces.

It is clear that the statement made by the countries truly violates the purpose and intention of the UN Charter and violate the principles of international law concerning the relation of friendship between countries as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country. These countries are already using the UN General Assembly to submit their domestic agenda, and for some countries to divert attention of the political and social problems in their country. Those countries are also seizing false information as the basis of their statements. The attitude of these countries has underestimated the UN charter and jeopardized the credibility of this Assembly.

Indonesia's commitment to human rights is unquestionable questioned as Indonesia is a founding member of the UN Human Rights Council and has been a member of the council for three terms, and is currently a member for the fourth time. Indonesia is the initiator of the human rights commission among ASEAN and OIC permanent independent commission. Indonesia has ratified eight of nine major human rights instruments which all integrated into the national legal system of Indonesia, meanwhile Solomon Islands only ratified four and Vanuatu did five. Indonesia is among the few countries that have a National Action Plan on Human Rights, and is currently the fourth generation of the Plan from 2014 to 2019. Indonesia has an active and strong Human Right Commission since 1993, an active civil society, and a free media. Indonesia is also a mature democratic state in its functions.

In such a dynamic democracy with a very high commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights at all levels, it is almost impossible that human rights violations occurred without being known and examined. There is a domestic mechanism at the national level in Indonesia, also at the provincial level in Papua and West Papua. Indonesia continues to provide the appropriate focus to development in Papua and West Papua and to the best interests of all. In conclusion, it is said that when one points his index finger at the other, the other three fingers automatically point at one’s own face.
 
The interesting part is that the response representing Indonesia was delivered by 34-year-old junior diplomat serving as Second Secretary at the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations. The response that was read by a junior diplomat to the statement of head of government of a country, is a hard diplomatic slap. Today, her name is quoted by various international media. We all should be grateful that in order to maintain the dignity of the nation in international forums, Foreign Affairs Ministry seems to manage to regenerate its diplomat cadres. It's obvious now that Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide an opportunity for young diplomats to fight in the arena of international to try their diplomacy skill. A young diplomat who is so confident in carrying out the duty of the state brings pride to the country. Indonesian women like Nara are expected to be as successful as other world diplomats that can always make people froze and had to hear their statements.

Rebuttal of Indonesia is supported by the Foreign Affair Minister of Papua New Guinea, Rimbink Pato that stated his country regards Papua as an integral part of Indonesia. According to him, the existence of the Free West Papua Movement brings a negative impact on Pacific states. Pacific countries are now divided into two camps, namely, the camp that supports the Free West Papua Movement, such as the Solomon Island, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and others, and countries stating that Papua is part of Indonesia, such as Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Pacific nations are now fragmented due to the presence of the Free West Papua Movement. In addition, the supporters of the Free West Papua Movement seem to impose its will and do not accept if there is other country in the Pacific which disagree with their decision.

However, it is so unfortunate that there are some certain parties standing by the statements of those six Pacific countries concerning the human right violation in Papua. There is no doubt that the statements of those country leaderships are based on various tendentious reports from many local Human Right institution in Papua, Jakarta, or even overseas. Advocates and Defenders of Human Rights in Papua even called on President Barrack Obama and other major countries in order to provide support to the UN to send the special rapporteur on Torture and Freedom of Expression to Papua by December 2016.

Meanwhile, the Public Attorneys of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta criticizes the statement of the representative of Indonesia in the UN General Assembly. According to data of LBH Jakarta from April 2016 to September 2016, arrest followed by intimidation and violence against 2,282 Papuans who were conducting a peaceful protest have taken place. From a series of arrests and killings carried out in Papua, the Indonesian government is considered absent and assume the Papuan people who express aspirations peacefully as insurgents or separatists instead. Indonesia is deemed not serious in revealing and prosecuting human rights violations in Papua and contrary to the statement of Indonesia through its representation in the UN General Assembly. It is even mentioned in the UN General Assembly that there is an effort covering a wide range of human rights violations in Papua.

There seems to be a common view between the leaders of the six Pacific countries that hit Indonesia in the UN General Assembly with the attitude and statements of human rights rapporteur in the country. It seems that they cannot distinguish the rule of law and human rights violations. The attitude of the security forces to enforce the law is considered as a form of human rights violation. They should be aware though our brothers from Papua carry out a peaceful action, raising the voice to separate Papuan apart from the Homeland will certainly be dealt with and processed in accordance to applicable laws. In Maluku alone, somebody caught hoisting the flag of Benang Raja will be immediately arrested and prosecuted. The Maluku people themselves consider it as a form of law enforcement and not a human rights violation. The same thing also applies to law enforcement officers against the Papuans. It is noteworthy that the government continue to provide the human rights protection to every citizen, wherever they are. Therefore if any violations of human rights spotted, human rights activists can make a report to complete the case in accordance with the applicable legal norms. Jokowi administration is trying to complete the various cases of human rights violations that occurred in the past, and therefore let us support together.

*) The author is international relations observer.