Walk out of the Melanesian Summit, Indonesia is considered to be firm about sovereignty
Archive photo as a news illustration - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (second left) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu Jotham Napat (second right) held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta, Friday (16/6/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Hafidz Mubarak A/tom.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Observer and lecturer in International Relations at Cenderawasih University, Marinus Mesak Yaung, assessed that the action of the Indonesian delegation's walk out from the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit (MSG Summit) 2023 was a form of protest on the Papua issue becausealready related to national sovereignty.
"The decision by the Indonesian delegation to walk out shows the firm position of Indonesia's foreign policy regarding the issue of sovereignty," said Marinus in a press release in Jakarta, Thursday.
He also took this action as diplomatic pressure on the MSG Summit forum and Vanuatu as the host, that Indonesia is a big actor in the Indo-Pacific region.
"Indonesia is not a small country. The MSG Forum should not dictate Indonesia's policy on Papua," said Marinus.
Marinus reminded Vanuatu, Benny Wenda, and the ULMWP delegation to be self-aware and have good political calculations and not to equate Papua's political status with East Timor (now Timor Leste).
"27 years between East Timor and Indonesia in the eyes of international law, East Timor is still no man's territory. It does not belong to Indonesia," said Marinus.
Marinus suspects that Vanuatu and the MSG are trying to repeat the story of East Timor which held a referendum on self-determination in 1999 at the insistence of Australia, Vanuatu, the MSG organization and the international community, in Papua.
"Too naive and wrong. Papua in the eyes of international law is legally Indonesia's sovereign territory," said Marinus.
Marinus called Vanuatu's efforts and the MSG Summit forum in questioning Papua's political status a direct attack on the UN Charter and international law.
Netizens support the attitude of the Indonesian delegation and vice versa criticize Benny Wenda.
"Benny Wenda was not recognized at the MSG Summit as an observer of indigenous Papuans who participated in the trial. Only Mr. Oktavianus Mote, former vice chairman of the ULMWP," wrote the account @MNakpapua.
The account @interacquiant also conveyed the same thing. "ULMWP really doesn't deserve to sit there. Indonesia's attitude is just right," the account tweeted.
Meanwhile, the account @BiliWonda delivers a firm message to the Armed Criminal Group (KKB).
"Indonesia will not negotiate with a terrorist group that killed its own brother and took a New Zealand pilot hostage," he wrote.
Walk out dari KTT Melanesia, Indonesia dinilai tegas soal kedaulatan
Foto arsip sebagai ilustrasi berita - Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi (kedua kiri) dan Menteri Luar Negeri Vanuatu Jotham Napat (kedua kanan) melakukan pertemuan di Kementerian Luar Negeri, Jakarta, Jumat (16/6/2023). ANTARA FOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/tom.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Pengamat dan dosen Hubungan Internasional pada Universitas Cenderawasih, Marinus Mesak Yaung, menilai aksi walk out delegasi Indonesia dari Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi para Pemimpin Grup Ujung Tombak Melanesia (KTT MSG) ke-22 2023 merupakan bentuk protes dalam isu Papua karena sudah menyangkut kedaulatan nasional.
"Keputusan walk out delegasi Indonesia itu menunjukkan posisi tegas kebijakan luar negeri Indonesia soal isu kedaulatan," kata Marinus dalam rilis pers di Jakarta, Kamis.
Dia juga aksi itu juga sebagai tekanan diplomatik terhadap forum KTT MSG dan Vanuatu sebagai tuan rumah, bahwa Indonesia adalah aktor aktor besar di kawasan Indo-Pasifik.
"Indonesia bukan negara kecil. Forum MSG jangan dikte Indonesia soal kebijakan atas Papua," tegas Marinus.
Marinus mengingatkan Vanuatu, Benny Wenda, dan delegasi ULMWP agar sadar diri dan memiliki kalkulasi politik yang baik serta tidak menyamakan status politik Papua dengan Timor Timur (kini Timor Leste).
"27 tahun Timor Timur dengan Indonesia di mata hukum internasional, Timor Timur tetap wilayah tak bertuan. Bukan milik Indonesia," kata Marinus.
Marinus menduga Vanuatu dan MSG berusaha mengulang cerita Timor Timur yang menggelar referendum penentuan nasib sendiri pada 1999 atas desakan Australia, Vanuatu, organisasi MSG, dan komunitas internasional, di Papua.
"Terlalu naif dan keliru. Papua di mata hukum internasional adalah sah wilayah kedaulatan Indonesia," tegas Marinus.
Marinus menyebut upaya Vanuatu dan forum KTT MSG dalam mempertanyakan status politik Papua sebagai serangan langsung terhadap Piagam PBB dan hukum internasional.
Warganet mendukung sikap delegasi Indonesia itu dan sebaliknya mengkritik Benny Wenda.
"Benny Wenda tidak diakui dalam KTT MSG sebagai pengamat orang asli Papua yang ikut dalam sidang. Hanya tuan Oktavianus Mote mantan wakil ketua ULMWP," tulis akun @MNakpapua.
Hal senada juga disampaikan akun @interacquiant. "ULMWP memang tidak pantas duduk di situ. Sikap Indonesia sudah pas," cuit akun tersebut.
Sedangkan akun @BiliWonda menyampaikan pesan tegas kepada Kelompok Kriminal Bersenjata (KKB).
"Indonesia tidak akan bernegosiasi dengan kelompok teroris yang membunuh saudaranya sendiri dan menyandera pilot Selandia Baru," tulis dia.