Papua sparks controversy during Jokowi's PNG visit

Transcript

The thorny issue of West Papua has stirred controversy during a state visit by Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, to Papua New Guinea.

Mr Widodo left Port Moresby on Tuesday after a 30-hour visit.

But the trip came amid allegations of media gagging and the arbitrary arrest of protesting West Papuan independence activists.

Jamie Tahana reports.

Joko Widodo's plane touched down in Port Moresby on Monday, greeted by a 21-gun salute and military guard of honour. But outside the airport, a group was protesting Indonesia's rule of the western half of New Guinea. That protest was led by the PNG Union for a Free West Papua. Its general secretary, David Dom Kua, says police broke up the protest just before Mr Widodo touched down, and he and six others were detained for several hours. The group was later released without charge. Mr Kua says their detention was illegal and done in an attempt to hide them from the visiting President.

DAVID KOM KUA: We are not in Indonesia, we are in Papua New Guinea. This is our own country, we are stepping on our own soil and our own laws and so if there is any political interference or influence whatsoever, how can the police or our government think they can do what the Indonesian government has been doing?

The Oro Governor and MP, Gary Juffa, says the group had a court order allowing them to protest, but they were detained arbitrarily. He says Port Moresby has been quick to try and please Jakarta by clamping down on peaceful protest.

GARY JUFFA: We can't allow Indonesia to extend their authoritarian rule into Papua New Guinea which is what seems to be happening. And in instances when Indonesians visit or when Indonesian officials are here then there's a gag on the media, there's all the military persons, the people are controlled, it's as if we are a province of Indonesia.

Independence for West Papua is a sensitive topic for Indonesia, and one that Papua New Guinea governments have stayed silent on for many years. A major West Papuan representative organisation is currently applying for membership of the regional Melanesian Spearhead Group, and has the backing of Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application will be the special focus of an MSG members' meeting next week, before a possible decision on the bid at the leaders' summit in Honiara in July. Mr Widodo's visit comes as Indonesia's diplomatic overtures to Melanesian countries have reached top levels, prompting the ULM to argue that the visit is to try and pressue PNG to not support the bid. But at a state dinner for Mr Widodo, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said he wants to welcome Melanesian brothers and sisters from West Papua to the MSG, but it must be done with endorsement from Jakarta. Our correspondent in Port Moresby, Todagia Kelola, says the topic was off-limits to media at a breakfast on Tuesday, where Mr Widodo spoke about strengthening economic ties between the two countries. He says  the issue of West Papua was only slightly alluded to by Mr Widodo.

TODAGIA KELOLA: He said the visit in Papua New Guinea provides an opportunity to strengthen ties in both countries. And despite not commenting on the West Papua issue Mr Widodo seeks to ensure that closer relations is far more important for the benefit for the people in Indonesia especially the 11 million Melanesians in Indonesia.

Before leaving the country, the leaders of both countries signed new agreements to cooperate in the development of petroleum and energy resources and to prevent transnational crime. At the airport ahead of his departure, however, was another group of West Papua activists burning the Indonesian flag.