Luhut Reject Fact Finding Team to Papua Human Rights Violations

Indonesian Minister, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, pictured with a member of Fiji         (ministers Photo: Facebook account Luhut B. Pandjaitan)

 JAKARTA, SATUHARAPAN.COM - Menkopolhukam Luhut B. Pandjaitan, rejected the fact-finding team of human rights violations in Papua by foreign countries because Indonesia is a sovereign country.

The call about the need for a fact-finding team of human rights violations in Papua comes from a number of countries that are members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and also Menalensian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The rejection was made Luhut via a note on his Facebook account on April 2th, which tells the story of his visited to several countries in the South Pacific, including Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

According Luhut, he invited the neighboring countries in the South Pacific, to visit Papua witnessed development there. But he rejected the presence of a fact-finding team because it was an internal affair of Indonesia.

"I was invited both countries to come and see a lot of things that have been done by the government of Indonesia in Papua. But do they ever talk to conduct fact finding regarding the problems in our country, because I do not want Indonesia intervened by foreign country," said Luhut.

Luhut added, Indonesia is a sovereign country so that no single country in the world that dictates.

"So I directly convey to the government of the Republic of Fiji and Papua New Guinea and West Papua is an integral part of the Homeland. The fact it is final and can not be negotiated again," he said.

Not long ago, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, reiterated its position on the need for countries that are members of the PIF send a fact-finding team of human rights violations in Papua.

According to him, PIF and MSG respecting Indonesian sovereignty over Papua. However, human rights violations and the desire of self-determination to the people of Papua, should not be overlooked.

"The issue of self-determination is a matter between the people of Papua and Indonesia to talk about," said Sogavare to a number of media in Fiji during a visited to the country. "But when it comes to issues of human rights violations, I think we can and must as a member of the United Nations expressed our opinions and concerns. I hope that the President respect that, "said Sogavare.

"All human beings on earth who can think should be able to declare worries when a race is being tortured for what he believed to be the expression of thought and expression of how they will have to organize themselves," said Sogavare.

He said it would continue to encourage the PIF secretariat to send an independent fact-finding mission consisting of NGOs and churches to Papua to know what is happening related to human rights violations.

Editor: Eben E. Siadari

Author: Bob H. Simbolon 12:37 pm | Monday, April 4, 2016

Source: Luhut Tolak Tim Pencari Fakta Pelanggaran HAM untuk Papua

Translated and republishing by,

Sebby Sambom

An West Papuan Human Rights Defender

(Former West Papuan Political Prisoner)