Sentani, Jubi – The Papua Independent Committee (KIP) claimed they had a private meeting with Indonesian Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu in Jakarta last Friday.
The KIP delegation consists of six members, namely Lawrance Mehue (chairman), Masjohn Suebu (secretary), Ones Banundi (Papua Customary Council), Marthin de Fretes (member), Don Flassy (Spokesperson) and Enny Tan Ferry (liaison officer).
“Our goal to meet directly with the defense minister is to check as well as to follow up on the letters sent by the President of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB) Forkorus Yaboisembut to former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President Joko Widodo about a negation for Indonesian recognition on the independence of West Papua based on independent declaration on 19 October 2011 which decided the independence of West Papua should be returned to Declaration 1 December 1961 in accordance to the international law,” Spokesperson Don Flassy told reporters in the press conference held at Pendopo Boy Eluay, Sentani, on Monday (14/4/2015).
“Through Mrs. Enny Tan Ferre who liaised us with Jakarta, we finally could meet with the Defense Minister at special location where he usually held his private meetings. We talked to him about fifteen minutes,” Flassy said.
He revealed when the minister asked for their goal, they said they were coming to Jakarta for tracking the answers of the letters sent by the NRFPB President to the former and current Indonesian President about Papua issues.
“The minister said we shouldn’t need dialogue anymore. It’s time for negotiation. No more talk about Free Papua, because we have spent times together in the past times,” Flassy repeated the minister’s statement. He further said the KIP also gave the minister a book about the profile of West Papua and its people.
In the same location, Omas Banundi who represented the Papua Customary Council in KIP firmly said the meeting between the KIP and Defense Minister was a right way towards the next works in the future.
“According to the Defense Minister we are not able to work on behalf of a group or party but we must work for the people’s benefit,” said Banundi.
Referring to the minister’s statement in the meeting, he accused the local government for being dishonest in delivering the aspiration of Papuan people to the Central Government.
“People’s aspiration on economic, infrastructure and facility, development as well as people oriented programs might be included in the Special Autonomy Law although it considered failed,” he said. (Engelberth Wally/rom)
