UPDATED: 7:14am – Indonesia’s Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand ,Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit of approval to stage the action.
At least 30 local people supporting the West Papua independence movement took part in a peaceful protest this week in front of the hotel where the Pacific leaders summit is held in Samoa.
A member of Mr Yahya’s delegation also accused one senior journalist of asking provoking questions in support of the West Papua issue. But the Ambassador said the reporter’s questions was based on outdated information.
West Papua was one of the issues raised by the civil society delegation in this week’s Forum leader’s meeting. But Ambassador Yahya said the issue of Papua was not on the agenda at this Forum meeting.
“First it will not bring any relevant issues which connects to the agenda and the second, it’s kind of, in our perspective talking about Papua in this conference is not in place because from the beginning there is no agenda as such that will be concerning the issue of Papua,” he said.
The Indonesia delegation will join other Pacific Forum dialogue partners including the United States, China, and Japan in a face to face meeting today at the leader’s retreat.
It’s the final agenda of the annual Pacific leaders summit in Samoa.
-RNZ
