Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Indonesia’s ambassador to Vanuatu describes West Papua as very unlawful

Posted at 18:35 on 26 February, 2013 UTC

Indonesia’s new ambassador to Vanuatu has described West Papua as very unlawful and that his country is determined to bring calm there.

Nadjip Riphat Kesoema fielded questions about West Papua from Vanuatu journalists at a press conference after he had presented his credentials to Vanuatu’s President, Iolu Johnson Abil on Tuesday.

Mr Nadjip says he is deeply saddened by the latest violence in Papua, with Eight Indonesian soldiers and four civilians killed in two separate shooting incidents in the Highlands last week.

“Democratisation should be accompanied by rule of law. Right now, many demonstrations has ended with violence because they just try to calm down the demonstration but then the demonstration becoming wild.”

Nadjip Riphat Kesoema has indicated he is open to the idea of West Papuans being incorporated into the Melanesian Spearhead Group.