The Vanuatu Government has maintained its position adopted under the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), stating it does not support any violence against human rights in West Papua, but will continue to respect its diplomatic ties with Indonesia.

This was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer at the Prime Minister’s Office, Kiery Manassah, in an interview with VBTC News .

This follows discussions in the media over the Easter weekend regarding scholarships provided by the Indonesian Government to Vanuatu for the second time this year.

Mr. Manassah said that the Vanuatu Government considers Indonesia a friend because West Papua falls under Indonesian governance, yet Vanuatu contempt any violent activities against West Papuans human rights.

“We have already seen that Indonesia has assisted Vanuatu in many areas, in terms of scholarships. We can’t restrict students from going there, and these are bilateral arrangements that we are benefiting from. Otherwise, we contempt any action that violates the rights of our people in West Papua.

“And this will remain unchanged except that we respect the sovereignty of Indonesia over West Papua,” said Manassah.

He made it clear that Indonesia has not placed any conditions on the aid and assistance provided to Vanuatu.

The Special Envoy of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua in Vanuatu, Morris Kaloran, disagrees.

He said the Indonesian scholarships are a tactic in the Pacific that contradicts how Indonesia is treating Melanesian brothers of Vanuatu.

“A few years back, maybe two or three years ago, Indonesia cut all scholarships for indigenous people of West Papua. So, my question is why? Why are they cutting scholarships inside West Papua and coming to provide scholarships in Vanuatu? It does not make sense, and it is important for the people of Vanuatu to know that the people of West Papua have the right to education,” said Kaloran.

“Yet, Indonesia that is colonizing them (West Papuans) today, ripped off this right from them and gave it to the people of Vanuatu. It is pure political manipulation that Indonesia is doing in Vanuatu, through out Melanesia and at the same time in the Pacific.”

Kaloran urges the Government and people of Vanuatu to respect Melanesian sovereignty and identity, so that society may reflect and uphold Melanesian values.

In respond to the local media, spokesperson of the Indonesian Embassy stated that the scholarship program is aimed as a development and building relationships between nations like Vanuatu.