TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papuan separatist groups staged a protest to Jokowi during his official state visit in Wellington, New Zealand. However, Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand Tantowi Yahya stated the number was less than citizens who coming to welcome Jokowi`s arrival.
“Every time the protest staged wherever Jokowi present, the voice of those welcoming the president is louder than the protesters,” stated Tantowi in a written statement, Tuesday, March 20.
Tantowi said the rally of Papuan separatist was common in New Zealand and as the democratic country, the government assured the rights of it. He said the issue had been brought up by the same people. “New Zealand citizen did not pay too much attention to them,” he added. President Jokowi also tolerated the act against him.
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The ambassador stated in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and Defense Secretary Ron Mark, President Jokowi explained the true condition of Papua as well as current issues about Rohingya, North Korea's nuclear conflict, South China Sea dispute, meat products dispute in the World Trade Organization, and international rules on illegal fishing (IUU Fishing).
In his official visit, Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Pratikno, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Lembong, and Ambassador Tantowi Yahya.
Tantowi claimed the New Zealand government understood the Indonesian position amidst various global conflicts including Papua issue and acknowledged Indonesia’s territorial over Papua. The country’s opposition leader Simon Bridges in a meeting with Jokowi also conveyed the same statement regarding the Indonesian eastern region.
M ROSSENO AJI
