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Indonesia condemns Papuan flag incident in Melbourne
Jakarta Post - January 7, 2017
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir called for the immediate arrest of the people responsible for what he called a "criminal act" that must be punished in accordance with the law.
"The Indonesian government has conveyed protest to the Australian government and urged for the perpetrators to be strictly dealt with," Arrmanatha told The Jakarta Post late on Friday.
The Morning Star, a symbol of the Papuan independence movement, was hoisted by a Caucasian suspect who, according to the ministry spokesman, broke into the Indonesian mission by scaling a wall "more than 2.5 meters-high" from an adjoining apartment building complex.
Another person recorded the incident from outside the gate of the Indonesian office building. The action was carried out at 12:52 p.m. local time, when most Indonesian staffers were away for Friday prayers. Australian authorities are currently looking into the matter.
The government also reminded Australia that it was responsible for the protection of every diplomatic and consular mission within its borders, in accordance with the 1961 and 1963 Vienna Conventions.
"It is in this regard that the Indonesian government demands Australia to ensure and increase the protection of all Indonesian diplomatic and consular properties [in the country]," Arrmanatha said.
The incident comes off the back of a fresh spat between the two neighboring countries, precipitated by the discovery of offensive teaching materials at an Australian military academy which, among other things, mocked Indonesia's state ideology, Pancasila, and suggested support for Papuan independence.
As a result, Indonesia froze its defense cooperation with Australia as the latter's top brass scrambled to rectify the problem.
The Papuan independence movement recently met a dead end in its efforts to seek legitimacy through the Melanesian Spearhead Group, as talks about its bid for full membership in the diaspora-based forum floundered. (evi)
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