Tempotimor (Jakarta) – The issue of alleged human rights violations in Papua and West Papua has become a hot topic at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands have raised the issue of alleged human rights violations in Papua to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The issue was raised by the two countries through a joint statement delivered at the latest session of the UN Human Rights Council by Vanuatu's Permanent Representative in Geneva, Sumbue Antas.

In the statement, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands also mentioned that Indonesia had never given access to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Papua.

Antas asks to the High Commissioner Reporting on Human Right Violation issues that need to be addressed by the Council.

“We share the concern race by the High Commissioner and its all States to uphold and respect the fundamental principles of human rights,” he said in his statement to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Genewa Wednesday 18 September 2019.   

He said, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands are proud to be the fourth front advocating and engaging with other State to promote and protect human rights.

“We are concern about the Indonesian government delay in confirming the time and date for the Human Rights Commissioner to conduct its visit to West Papua. We are deeply concern about human right violations through censoring of freedom of expression and assembly as well as race discrimination towards Papuans of the Melanesian people of the province of Papua and West Papua,” he said and adding that  start 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Communiqué calls on all part to protect and uphold the human right of all residence and to work to address the root causes of the conflict by peaceful means.

The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders also strongly encourage what Indonesian the High Commissioner of Human Right to follow the timing of the visit to West Papua and submit an evidence based report on the situation before the next the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in 2020.

This statement was immediately responded by Permanent Representative/Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva Andreano Erwin expresses regret for racist incidents preceding recent violent confrontations with military and says still preparing for visit of UN Human Rights Commissioner to West Papua. Praises PIF for recognising its sovereignty.

Indonesia continues to be in the international spotlight after violent demonstrations took place in a number of areas in Papua in mid-August.

As a result of the riots, the Indonesian government deployed six thousand additional security forces to Papua. The government also had time to revoke internet access in the province which was seen as an effort to stem the spread of false news which would make the atmosphere worse.

The UN Human Rights Council has raised its voice regarding the riots in Papua. In early September, Michelle Bachelet expressed her concern about the escalating violence in Papua, especially the deaths of a number of residents and security forces during the demonstration.

According to him, the Papua riots are part of a trend that the United Nations has observed since December 2018.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said the government had a dialogue with the UN High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) to explain the situation in Papua shortly after the riots took place.