The Oxford City Council in Britain has awarded United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) chairperson Benny Wenda the Honorary Freedom of the City accolade for his fight for West Papuan self-determination. The Indonesian government has slammed the award.
“Indonesia strongly condemns the award by the Oxford City Council for this person”, said the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry in a written statement on Thursday July 18.
The ministry said that giving the award to Wenda shows that the Oxford Council does not fully understand the real situation in Papua and West Papua provinces. It also said that the council does not understand Wenda’s behavior.
“Giving an award to this person shows the Oxford City Council’s lack of understanding about the behaviour of this person and the real situation in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, including the development and advances there”, the ministry said.
The ministry also said that the Indonesian government’s position on the separatist movement in Papua remains firm although it also expressed its thanks to the British government for consistently and fully supporting Indonesia’s sovereignty over Papua.
“Indonesia’s position on the separatist movement remains firm. We will not retreat one centimeter in upholding the [sovereignty of the] RI [Republic of Indonesia]”, it said.
“Indonesia respects the British government’s firm position of consistently and fully supporting the sovereignty and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and because of this the Oxford City Council’s position has no meaning whatsoever”, it continued.
In relation to the award, the British government asserted that it does not mean that the government supports Papuan independence.
“We support Indonesia’s territorial integrity and Papua as part of Indonesia”, said the British Foreign Affairs Department as quoted by BBC News.
The Oxford City Council decision to give the award to Wenda has no relationship with the British government’s position on Papua.
“Politically, the position of local councils are independent of the central government, so this represents the authority of the Oxford City Council”, the department said in conclusion.
Wenda meanwhile said that he appreciates being given the award saying that it shows that Oxford City is concerned about justice and human rights for the Papuan people.
“This award shows that the people of Oxford have listened and responded”, said Wenda.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Indonesia Kecam Kota Oxford Berikan Penghargaan kepada Benny Wenda”.]
